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Heat suspected in death of Md. biker

Officials say the man seemed to have gone unconscious while biking and hit his head on a tree as he fell

The Virginian-Pilot

FORT WASHINGTON — A 20-year-old Virginia Beach man biking in Maryland died Saturday after going into cardiac arrest. Authorities suspect heat could be a factor.

Prince George’s County Fire and Rescue officials say the man seemed to have gone unconscious while biking about 11:15 a.m. They say witnesses saw the man hit his head on a tree as he fell from his bike.

The man was identified as Jeremy Wilcox of Virginia Beach, according to radio station WTOP .

Paramedics found him in cardiac arrest and displaying possible signs of heat-related illness. They took him to Fort Washington Hospital Center, but he died shortly after arriving. Paramedics said in a news release that high temperatures and humidity “more than likely” played a role in his death. Temperatures were in the 90s .

There was a National Weather Service warning of excessive heat for the D.C. area, including parts of Maryland and Virginia.

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