The death of a 57-year-old man on Staten Island nine days ago has been ruled heat-related, marking the first fatality in the city caused by hot weather this summer.
The city medical examiner's office ruled the cause of the man's July 8 death was hyperthermia, exposure to high environmental temperatures. A spokeswoman said the man had an underlying medical condition.
Meteorologists say the temperature on the date the medical examiner says the victim died was 89 degrees. Temperatures had hit 90 degrees for three consecutive days before that, however -- from July 5 to July 7.
Last summer, there were four heat-related deaths during an eight-day heat wave that set records across the region. At least three of those victims had underlying health issues, the medical examiner said at the time.
The tri-state area is currently enduring the longest, hottest heat wave of the summer. Temperatures surpassed 90 degrees for the fourth straight day Wednesday, and forecasters say the blazing heat will likely last through Saturday.