Coroner: Midlands Death Related to Hurricane Mathew

COLUMBIA, SC  (WOLO )– The Richland County Coroner has announced the death of a Midlands man, believed related to Hurricane Mathew.

Richland County Coroner Gary Watts says 66 year old David L. Outlaw, was a resident of National Health Care and was found around 7:48 a.m. Saturday outside of his home.

Watts says Outlaw was pinned beneath his wheelchair, face down, in an area of standing water resulting from the heavy rains of Hurricane Matthew.

Watts says Outlaw was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at 10:48 a.m.

An autopsy indicated that Mr. Outlaw died from asphyxiation due to drowning in standing water due to falling out of his electric wheelchair, according to the Coroner.

The Richland County Coroner and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department continue to investigate the incident, says Watts.