[StBernard] Man found dead in Violet Saturday did not drown, coroner says

[Westley Annis]

Man found dead in Violet Saturday did not drown, coroner says
By Chris Kirkham, The Times-Picayune 
December 14, 2009, 5:35PM
An elderly Violet man who was found dead in the floodwaters Saturday evening
died of natural causes, according to St. Bernard Parish Coroner Bryan
Bertucci. 


Initially it was unclear whether the 73-year-old died of a medical problem
or fell and drowned, according to a St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office news
release. Bertucci performed the autopsy Monday and confirmed that the man
died after heart complications.


The man was a passenger in a vehicle with his wife and daughter on Livaccari
Drive in Violet when the vehicle stalled in water near the family's home. 

The three got out to see about the problem and at some point, family members
saw the man was on the ground and they called for help. 

The victim was pronounced dead on the scene.