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47-year-old Seville farmer becomes first victim of heatwave in Spain
Heat-related deaths in Spain doubled between 2019 and 2022
A Seville farmer, 47, has become the first victim of the first official heatwave of the year in Spain with punishing temperatures topping out at a scorching 42ºC in parts of Andalucia in recent days.
The man, who had previous pathologies, died as a result of the extreme heat while ploughing at his agricultural farm in the Seville town of Aznalcóllar, according to sources from the Regional Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs.
The tragedy happened on Saturday June 24 when the province was on orange alert for deadly heat.
Municipal sources confirmed the deceased fell ill and lethargic around 1pm. He was initially assisted by one of his sons before being rushed to the local health centre where a doctor confirmed he had a body temperature of over 40ºC.
This is the temperature at which the body's thermoregulatory mechanisms fail and heatstroke occurs.
Sadly, the victim died at the health centre and his funeral was held the following day at the parish church of Nuestra Señora de Consolación de Aznalcóllar.
On Monday June 27, Seville province was placed on red alert for searing maximum temperatures of up to 44ºC, and Aznalcóllar Town Hall issued a warning to the public to take "extreme precautions against the effects of the heat.
Highs of up to 42ºC are expected to continue until Thursday.
Fatalities from heatstroke and dehydration doubled between 2019 and 2022, and a staggering 157,580 died from heat-related problems between May and August last year.
During this period, the health services reported 122 fatal heatstrokes compared to 47 in 2019, representing an increase of 159%, and 233 cases of dehydration, which rose 113.7% compared to the 109 of the pre-pandemic year.
In 2021, deaths from both causes stood at 189 compared to 355 in 2022 - a shocking 89% hike.
Image: Pexels
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