Florida medical examiners report tells how hurricane victims died in Manatee, Sarasota
A report from the Florida’s Medical Examiners Commission shares details of how Hurricane Ian, one of the deadliest tropical storms in Florida history, took lives across the state.
As of Wednesday, three deaths in Manatee County and five deaths in Sarasota County have been attributed to the storm.
The report reiterates the many potential dangers of hurricanes. Between Manatee and Sarasota counties, people died preparing for Ian, during the hurricane itself and in the storm’s aftermath.
As of Wednesday night, the Medical Examiners Commission had totaled 89 deaths statewide. Combined with other deaths confirmed by local officials and news media, Hurricane Ian’s death toll has reached at least 100 people — a majority of those in Lee County, home of Fort Meyers and Sanibel Island.
Fatality numbers are likely to rise as search and recovery efforts continue.
The following deaths have been confirmed in the Bradenton and Sarasota areas, according to the Medical Examiners Commission:
Manatee County
Sept. 29: A 71-year-old female died from a fall with blunt trauma.
Sept. 30: A 22-year-old female was ejected from an ATV rollover due to a road washout.
Oct. 1: An 80-year-old female was unable to use her medical equipment.
Sarasota County
Sept. 27: A 71-year-old male died of head injuries when he fell off a roof while putting up rain shutters.
Sept. 30: An 80-year-old male, unable to use oxygen, died of natural causes.
Sept. 30: A 62-year-old female died of drowning.
Oct. 2: A 60-year-old male died of heart disease.
Oct. 4: A 57-year-old female died from an undisclosed accident.
Details of the cases were not immediately available from the medical examiners office.
