Golden Gate Estates man, 35, first Irma-related death in SWFL

NAPLES, Fla. A Golden Gate Estates man who suffered carbon monoxide poisoning is the first person in Southwest Florida known to have died from a cause related to Hurricane Irma.

Yusdel Moreno Iglesias, 35, had lost power at his home on the 3600 block of Second Avenue Northeast on Sunday when he told his girlfriend he was going out to sit in a car to cool off and charge electronics, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office said in an incident report.

Iglesias later returned inside the home, grabbed a pillow and blanket and said he was going to go back to the car and let the cellphone and iPad continue to charge, the incident report said.

His girlfriend found him face-down hours later on the garage floor, according to the incident report. Deputies observed a strong smell of carbon monoxide when they responded.

County medical examiners previously reported 26 Irma-related deaths statewide, but that number is expected to rise.