Four Illinois Men Die While Shoveling Snow

Jan. 06--At least four people died over the weekend while shoveling snow, officials said.

The men ranged in age from 48 to 63. One was from the Humboldt Park neighborhood in Chicago and the three others were from Will County.

"It's unfortunate,'' said Will County Coroner Patrick O'Neil. "We had three witnessed collapses after shoveling snow. They were taken to area emergency rooms and apparently had heart attacks.''

Two men from Joliet, 62 and 63, died on Sunday and a 57-year-old man from Bolingbrook died on Saturday, O'Neil said. All three were at their homes, he said.

The Bolingbrook man was pronounced dead in the emergency room of the Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital, and the others were pronounced dead at Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, according to the coroner's office.

Their names were not being released.

O'Neil said no weather-related deaths have been reported from the current cold snap.

In Chicago, a 48-year-old man died of an apparent heart attack around 10 p.m. while shoveling snow in the 1400 block of North Washtenaw Avenue, police said.

The man had a history of heart problems, authorities said. He was outside his home when he complained of dizziness, according to a Shakespeare District police sergeant.

He was pronounced dead at 10:27 p.m. Sunday at Presence Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center, authorities said. His name was not released.

rsobol@tribune.com -- Twitter: @RosemarySobol1

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