Woman's Pool Death Likely Exacerbated By Heat-Related Medical Condition: Austin Medical Examiner

AUSTIN, TX -- A woman who passed away over the weekend of suspected drowning may have actually died from an unrelated medical issues, according to a published report.

The Travis County medical examiner's office on Monday told the Austin American-Statesman that Tina Marie Poworski, 56, had complained before her death on Sunday of feeling overheated. She went to a swimming pool at 10001 S. First St. to cool off, where she later died.

While an official cause of death has not been assessed, the chief administrative officer at the ME's office, Sarah Scott, said the victim may have succumbed to other medical conditions rather than drowning.

Residents of Central Texas have been beset by triple-digit temperatures, including the 100-degree heat that was registered on the day Poworski died as recorded by the National Weather Service.

The incident should serve as a reminder for people to stay hydrated in the intense Texas summer heat, which recently prompted health officials to issue urgent alerts. Among the most vulnerable to the oppressive heat are children left unattended in hot cars -- 26 of whom have died so far -- as Patch previously reported.

Read the full story at Austin American-Statesman >>