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Friday, February 19, 2010

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Sebeka man dies after falling out of wheelchair outside his home

By MATT ERICKSON

Staff Writer

A 39-year-old rural Sebeka man died of hypothermia Tuesday after falling out of his wheelchair outside of his home.

The Wadena County Sheriff's Department reported Michael Lee Johnson, a paraplegic, was found lying on the ground and unresponsive about 8 a.m. Tuesday by his personal care giver outside his home in North Germany Township.

Sheriff's Investigator Amy Ament said it was believed Johnson had fallen out of his wheelchair sometime during the preceding night when temperatures dropped below zero degrees.

Exactly how long Johnson was lying on the ground wasn't known, Ament said, and the sheriff's department is waiting for more information from the pathologist's report.

Johnson was taken to Tri-County Hospital Wadena, where he later died. The sheriff's department reported Johnson had extreme hypothermia, with a body core temperature in the low 70s.

Johnson's body was transported to the Fergus Falls medical examiner's office for an autopsy.

The Sebeka First Responders and Tri-County Ambulance personnel assisted at Johnson's home.

MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.

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