Officials have reported that Mitch Petrus, 32, a former New York Giants offensive lineman died of a heatstroke Thursday night.
CBS reported that Pulaski County Coroner Gerone Hobbs said Petrus died at the Little Rock hospital. It is being reported that he had spent a majority of Thursday working outside and his cause of death was ruled heat stroke. Friends and fans of Petrus have taken to social media to express their sadness:
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Mitch Petrus. He was an outstanding competitor, incredible teammate and a true Hog. He will be greatly missed by many. Rest easy Mitch. pic.twitter.com/pMToZaWmc3
— Arkansas Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) July 19, 2019
We are grieving the loss of Mitch Petrus, a close friend of our family, especially my son Alex. He was all SEC guard for @RazorbackFB and played on @Giants 2011 Super Bowl champion team. https://t.co/6FSjQzJXDh
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) July 19, 2019
Ex-Giants OL Mitch Petrus has passed away at the age of 32 after suffering a heat-related illness.
Petrus was a 2010 fifth-round draft of the Giants and was apart of the Super Bowl XLVI team. RIP.
— Giants Daily (@NYGDaily) July 19, 2019
News of his death comes shortly after a majority of the east coast was put under a heat advisory. Mayor de Blasio has put New York City in a heat emergency. Temperatures across the area are expected to hit the high 90s and might even hit triple-digit numbers this weekend.
Although heatstroke is the worst heat-related illness, it is possible for victims to suffer from heat exhaustion as well as heat cramps.
If you are concerned that you or someone you know is suffering from heatstroke, keep an eye for these symptoms according to FEMA: dizziness, strong pulse, confusion, a high body temperature, skin that is red, hot, and dry (with no sweat) and potentially unconsciousness.
If you or anyone you know is suffering from these symptoms, call 911 or drive them to a hospital. While waiting for officials to arrive, it’s best if you do everything you can to cool the victim down. FEMA says the best ways to cool someone down are: going to a cooler location, remove clothing, and drink from sports drinks with salt and sugar.
