Death in south suburban Worth is season’s first cold death

An autopsy performed Saturday found a 68-year-old woman to be Cook County’s first cold-related death of the season, following recent cool weather leading up to this weekend’s snowfall.

Authorities have not officially identified the woman found Friday afternoon near the Worth Public Library in the 6900 block of West 111th Street in the south suburbs, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

An autopsy revealed the woman died from a combination of hypothermia and heart disease and the death was ruled an accident.

Hypothermia occurs when core body temperature drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit, affecting the heart and respiratory system, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Worth police officials were not available to provide additional details. The last cold-related death occurred last February, according to medical examiner records.