A statement from the 82nd Airborne Division said Monday that Sgt. Joshua Mann, 22, of Winside, Nebraska, died Saturday evening at Womack Army Medical Center after he was injured on Friday.
Mann was running with his unit when he collapsed. Officials said it was 79 degrees during the run, but it felt like 82 degrees. Because of the Sergeant's death, all runs have been scaled back to four miles and slowed down to a pace of nine minutes a mile.
The death is a reminder that even the physically fit can suffer medical problems when temperatures climb.
Hope Mills resident Faye Anderson says she avoids the heat of the day when she walks.
"I walk in the evening mostly and come up here and go into the gym every morning. Walk just a little bit in the morning cause it's so hot. I usually do my two miles or three miles... I do it in the evening when it's cooler," she explained.
For some tips on the dangers of heat and how to stay safe, visit the National Weather Service website
Yesmeen Robbins of Hope Mills is working on a New Year's resolution to get in better shape. She told ABC11 she drinks plenty of water and doesn't overdo it.
"I try to do like an every other day routine. So like one day outside, and one day - we have an elliptical at the house, inside - so I don't get too overheated," said Robbins.
Meteorologists say July was one of the hottest months on record and August is shaping up to be hotter than usual too.
Mann served as an airborne infantry team leader with Company C, 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team. He deployed to Iraq in August 2009 and received a number of medals, among them the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster.
An 82nd Airborne spokesman says Mann is survived by his wife, Rachel, and parents David and Melanie.
Classifieds | Report A Typo |
Send Tip |
Get Alerts | See Click Fix
Follow @abc11 on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook
