HATTIESBURG, Ms. (AP) — An Illinois National Guard member died after suffering heat injuries during outdoor fitness activities at a Mississippi military base, authorities say.
The 38-year-old man was being treated by a Camp Shelby doctor when he showed signs of injuries Friday and was taken to nearby Forrest General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, said Lieutenant Colonel Diedre D. Smith, a Mississippi spokesman. National Guard.
The Illinois soldier was at Camp Shelby for leadership school, Smith said. The Mississippi National Guard is not releasing his name out of respect for his family, she said.
Camp Shelby is located just outside of Hattiesburg, where temperatures hit 100 degrees (37.8 degrees Celsius) Friday through Monday, according to the National Weather Service. Humidity increased the heat index by a few degrees.
An 18-year-old Mississippi guard was also hospitalized for heat injuries after practicing outside at Camp Shelby on Saturday, Smith said.
Mississippi law enforcement issued an order on Saturday to ban all outdoor fitness activities between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. during the heat.
