A 72-year-old man died after collapsing at home in Mangaldan, Pangasinan, with his family suspecting heat stroke as extreme heat gripped parts of the province.

Liberato Tandingan, a resident of Barangay Guilig, had gone to his farm hours before his death to check his string beans. He later returned home, rested briefly, and drank alcohol before heading to the bathroom to bathe.

His relatives grew concerned when he did not come out.

When they checked, they found him unconscious inside the bathroom. He was rushed to the hospital but was later declared dead.

“Forty degrees ang init noong araw na ’yun. Uminom pa siya, tapos sinara niya ang pinto. Dati naman hindi niya ginagawa ’yun. Tapos mayroon siyang tubig, nilagyan ko pa ng ice ’yun,” Melissa Tandingan, his daughter, said.

Family members said the victim had already bathed twice that day due to the heat and may have been unable to withstand the extreme temperature.

The death certificate listed cardio-respiratory arrest as the cause of death, but the family believes heat triggered the incident.

“Sa amin, heat stroke ang kinamatay niya. Pero sabi ng Centrum Hospital, cardiac arrest daw. Na-intubate pa siya,” Melissa added.

Health officials warned the public about the risks of heat-related illnesses as the heat index continues to reach dangerous levels.

Symptoms of heat stroke include headache, rapid heartbeat, convulsions, and loss of consciousness.

Doctors advised immediate first aid, such as cooling the body with electric fans, applying cold compresses to the neck or abdomen, elevating the legs, and giving water if the person is conscious.

“Iwasan natin lumabas during peak hottest temperature that is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Kasi ayon sa PAGASA, ito ’yung pinakamainit na panahon at very prone na magkaroon ng heat-related illnesses kapag tayo ay na-expose sa ganitong kataas na temperatura,” Dr. Rheuel Bobis, spokesperson of the Center for Health Development in Region 1, said.