Medical Journal: Death of Man Who Fell Off Ladder ‘Ruled as Natural, Caused by COVID-19′

Doctors have attributed a Croatian man’s death to the Wuhan coronavirus even though he died after falling off a ladder, according to the Journal of Forensic Pathology.

The 51-year-old man died in what appeared to be a workplace incident, falling off a 10-foot ladder while working on a home this year. The man suffered minor external injuries, as well as a subarachnoid hemorrhage, described as “bleeding within the subarachnoid space, which is the area between the brain and the tissues that cover the brain” — an often fatal condition. However, the autopsy also discovered “visceral congestion,” particularly in his lungs.”

Per the New York Post:

During the autopsy, doctors found that large swaths of the man’s lungs were blocked. The finding then led scientists to conclude that he suffered from Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) — a life-threatening condition that can be caused by COVID-19.

According to the journal, the man had been complaining about a respiratory-like illness in the days leading to the fatal incident, experiencing symptoms including a headache, fever, cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath.

“He had refused the suggestion to see a doctor and had kept working until the moment he died,” the journal wrote.

A test taken postmortem showed him testing positive for the Chinese coronavirus.

“Based on all findings, the death was ruled as natural, caused by COVID-19,” the journal wrote:

Informed by this case, we would like to send a message to healthcare providers working in autopsy suites and to coroners to be vigilant, even with suspected violent deaths, SARS-CoV-2 can be hidden as the natural cause of death. The full autopsy performed on the deceased contributes greatly to the limited data available on the pathological findings in COVID-19 cases.

The case furthers mounting concerns among critics, who fear data is not giving a clear picture due to the way deaths are reported, as well as the purported failure to place an emphasis on the prevalence of comorbidities.

This issue arose again in July after Florida’s Orange County Health Officer Dr. Raul Pino revealed that one of their reported coronavirus victims died in a motorcycle accident.