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Coroner: Lineman dies while working to restore power in Benton County

The coroner said the man was from out of state and working to clear brush and trees.

BENTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, Ark. — A lineman has died in Benton County while working to restore power to areas ravaged by tornadoes on May 26, according to the county coroner.

Benton County coroner Daniel Oxford confirmed to 5NEWS that the lineman, whose name has not yet been released, was working in the area when he suffered a heat-related cardiac event.

Oxford said that the man was in his mid-40s and from out of state.

The man was working as part of an electrical crew clearing brush and trees. He was working west of Highway 12 when he died of a cardiac event due to heat stress.

Oxford said that he does not have information about pre-existing heart issues.

Over 1,000 linemen are in the area working to restore power after multiple tornadoes plowed through Northwest Arkansas on Sunday. 

Benton County Emergency Management confirmed that trees and powerlines were down in Decatur just minutes after confirming a tornado on the ground.

As of Wednesday at 5 p.m., over 21,000 people in Arkansas are without power. 

Most outages are in Benton County.

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