Autopsy planned to explain man's death
The body of a local man, found outside a social service centre in downtown Whitehorse last weekend, has been sent to Vancouver for an autopsy.
The body of a local man, found outside a social service centre in downtown Whitehorse last weekend, has been sent to Vancouver for an autopsy.
Joseph Rueben Smith, a Whitehorse resident, was found outside the Skookum Jim Friendship Centre at around 9 a.m. Saturday, RCMP Sgt. Don Rogers said today.
The RCMP were contacted immediately and arrived at 9:09 a.m, said Rogers.
Smith was transported by emergency service workers to Whitehorse General Hospital at 9:26 a.m. and died soon after, said Sharon Hanley, the territory's chief coroner.
The 66-year-old man has been recorded as having no fixed address.
He is said to have had health conditions but "nothing that are obvious that would play a part in his death,” Hanley told the Star.
"We do not know how he died. He was sent to Vancouver for an autopsy and the results will be in tomorrow,” said the coroner.
"Exposure is not being ruled out, but at this point, we don't believe it was that. It could be natural death.”
The RCMP do not believe foul play was involved.
A family member, who asked to have her identity withheld, said the family will not make a comment until after the autopsy results come back and a funeral is held, in accordance with their cultural values.
A funeral for Smith is being planned for next Monday. The family member said that as an elder, his death will be felt greatly by all members of his community.
Comments (2)
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Kirstin Sinclair on Nov 8, 2011 at 11:36 am
Dear "News Service Workers",
We are Paramedics. We are not Ambulance Attendants, Emergency Service Workers, and especially not Ambulance Drivers. I have seen these descriptions of Paramedics in your Newspaper. RCMP Officers are not called Police Car Drivers, and Firefighters are not Fire Service Workers. They deserve more respect than that, and so do we.
We have worked hard for our professional designation, and continue to work hard to help the people of Whitehorse in times of medical emergency.
So how about you call us Paramedics, and we'll call you Journalists.
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Thomas Brewer on Nov 8, 2011 at 9:46 am
"The family member said that as an elder, his death will be felt greatly by all members of his community. "
Apparently no members of his community wanted to house him however.