East Toledo man dies of a 108.9 degree temperature

7/19/2013
BLADE STAFF

An East Toledo man who was found in his house today with a body temperature of 108.9 degrees died in the hospital less than an hour later, said Dr. Diane Barnett, a Lucas County deputy coroner.

The death was believed to be the first in the county this year related to the heat, she said.

David Hoffman, 75, spoke about 11 a.m. with his wife, who is in a rehabilitation facility. When his wife could not reach him later, she called a niece, who discovered him lying on the floor of their Woodville Road residence about 3 p.m. He was taken to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center, where he died at 3:36 p.m., Dr. Barnett said.

The temperature in the house was above 90. Windows were closed; no fans were running, and the air conditioning was off, Dr. Barnett said.

A ruling on the death is pending an autopsy and toxicology test results, which could show whether medications affected how his body dealt with heat, she said.

The high temperature today at Toledo Express Airport was 94, recorded at 3:30 p.m. The National Weather Service had advised that afternoon heat index values could exceed 100 degrees.