Jan. 31--The death of an 81-year-old Posen man this week is Cook County's 16th cold-related fatality this season, officials said.
Edmund Lazuka of the 14900 block of Cleveland Avenue in the south suburb is the latest death attributable to the cold winter weather, according to Frank Shuftan, a spokesman for the Cook County medical examiner's office.
Lazuka was pronounced dead on Jan. 27 at 8:39 a.m. at his home, according to the office.
An autopsy determined that the primary cause of death was hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Cold exposure along with diabetes mellitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were listed as secondary causes.
Lazuka's was the 16th confirmed cold-related death this season with one additional case pending, Shuftan said.
Last winter -- during which Chicago had record-breaking low temperatures -- 32 cold-related deaths were counted from Oct. 24, 2013, through April 3, 2014, officials said.
