A man found dead on the South Side and a woman found dead in west suburban Berwyn are Cook County’s 10th and 11th cold deaths of the season.
A man was found at Ashland and Archer avenues and was pronounced dead at 7:57 a.m. Monday, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office. An autopsy found he died of hypothermia due to cold exposure. His identity has not been released pending notification of his family.
Carol Berkes, 77, was found in the 2300 block of Harvey Avenue in Berwyn and pronounced dead at 5:17 p.m. Sunday, the medical examiner’s office said. An autopsy found Berkes, who lived in the same block, died of cardiovascular disease, with diabetes mellitus and cold exposure listed as contributing factors.
Both deaths were ruled accidents, according to the medical examiner’s office.
Nine other cold-related deaths have been recorded in Cook County since Oct. 23, 2017, according to records maintained by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Additionally, a man who suffered a fall and hypothermia in south suburban Beecher in Will County was pronounced dead last week at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood.
Last year, the first cold-related death of the winter season was reported Oct. 22, 2016. At least 27 cold-related deaths were reported last winter, according to authorities.
