Heat Deaths Up To 18 From Recent Heat Wave

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A Robbins man and a man from the South Side have become the 17th and 18th deaths blamed at least partly due to the recent heat wave.

The Cook County Medical Examiner's office said that Charles Redmon, 56, of 1260 W. 103rd St., was pronounced dead at 12:55 p.m. on Monday at Little Company of Mary Hospital and Health Care Centers in Evergreen Park. An autopsy on Wednesday determined he died of heat stroke, hypertension and obesity.

And on Tuesday, 45-year-old Ernest Crossley, of 13424 S. Komensky Av., in Robbins, was found unresponsive at 4450 W. Monroe St. in Chicago, according to the medical examiner's office. He was pronounced dead at 12:18 p.m. Tuesday at Mount Sinai Hospital and an autopsy on Wednesday determined he died of heat stroke and hypertention.

So far, sixteen other people have died due to heat-related illnesses during the recent heat wave. A 19th person died of heat-related illness in May.