Following the tragic death of Dr Michael Mosley , it is important to be aware of heat exhaustion’s deadly effects. Here is how you can protect yourself. British television host and celebrity doctor Michael Mosley went missing last Wednesday while holidaying on the Greek island of Symi.
Four days later his body was found. The coroner stated Mosley most likely died from natural causes. Greek police say they believe Mosley died around 4pm local time on Wednesday, just hours after he had set off on a walk.
The coroner suggested that given Mosley’s age (67) and the fact he was walking in the sun in a rocky environment, “at some point the body will be exhausted”. While a full coroner’s report has not yet been finalised, heat has been implicated as a factor that may have contributed to Mosley’s death. Greek police said Mosley is believed to have died of heat exhaustion after losing consciousness while walking in 40°C temperatures.
This tragedy serves as a timely reminder of the dangers of extreme heat. When do hot conditions become dangerous? Physical activity levels and conditions in the environment significantly affect our risk of developing heat-related illness. When we’re doing physical activity, such as walking, the body creates heat as a by-product.
The more vigorous the activity, the more heat is generated. If this heat is not lost, the body can experience dangerous and potentially life-threatening increases in core temperature. The human body has two main ways.
