A Blue Island man and a Delaware woman are the 10th and 11th cold-related deaths reported this season in Cook County, according to county officials.
A Delaware woman who died in south suburban Homewood on New Year’s Eve is the most recent cold-related death in Cook County.
Debra McCann, 56, was pronounced dead at South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest at 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 31, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
An autopsy Thursday found McCann, of Port Orange, Delaware, died of a heart attack and heart disease, according to the medical examiner’s office. Obesity and hypothermia because of cold exposure were listed as contributing factors.
Her death was ruled an accident.
Last week, 63-year-old Garry Stankus was pronounced dead at Palos Community Hospital in Palos Heights at 2:20 a.m. on Dec. 23, according to the medical examiner’s office.
An autopsy found Stankus, who lived in the 2200 block of Market Street in Blue Island, died of sepsis and pneumonia, according to the medical examiner’s office.
Chronic alcoholism and hypothermia because of cold exposure were listed as contributing factors. His death was also ruled an accident.
At least nine others have died of cold-related causes in Cook County since early October, officials said.
