Elderly man dies of heat stroke

Burnsville, MS— A woman found her elderly son dead in the driveway, a victim of the heat. It’s the area’s first confirmed heat related death this summer

Empty, old peanut butter jars help prop open just one window at 72-year-old Wayne Lambert’s home, but it wasn’t enough to keep him cool.

” It was awful.” said Lambert’s mother, Delia Lambert.

Delia Lambert lives just feet away.  She was inside her home Sunday when her son went outside to the mailbox, something he did every day. But on that day, she heard an unusual thump.

“I looked, he was laying crossways in the drive way.” recalled Lambert.

Lambert felt helpless.

” All I knew to do was call 911.” said Lambert.

She told News Channel 3,  her son would barely drink water and refused to take off a coat he wore every day. The 72-year old suffered from Alzheimer’s and wrote himself notes so he could remember things. Since his death, his mother found the last note he scribbled to himself, showing he knew something was wrong.”

“It said I’m burnt out.” said Lambert.

 Dealing with her sons tragic death isn’t Lamberts only problem.

“I woke up this morning, I was just sweating up a storm.” Expressed Lambert.

The great-grandmother who is slowed down by a heart condition is having trouble breathing in the heat.Her window AC unit doesn’t keep her trailer very cool or comfortable.

” It just feels like a band is across my chest. My mouth stays so dry.” said Lambert.

Moved by her story, News Channel 3 photographer, Charlie Hoots bought Lambert an extra fan and hooked it up before we headed back to Memphis.

“It feels cool.” said Lambert.

All across the Mid-South, people are encouraged to check on elderly family members and friends as this extreme heat wave rides out.