Louisiana elected representative Luke Letlow, who died while fighting COVID-19, suffered a heart attack after a procedure, a hospital official said.
The 41-year-old was receiving treatment at Ochsner LSU Health’s intensive care unit in Shreveport when he died Tuesday, Monroe News-Star reported.
LSU Health Shreveport Chancellor GE Ghali confirmed that Letlow underwent a virus-related operation and subsequently went into cardiac arrest.
“It’s devastating for our whole team,” Ghali told the newspaper, adding that “he had no underlying conditions.”
The Republican had first announced he tested positive for the virus on Dec. 18 and said he was in quarantine at his home in Richland Parish.
But his health began to deteriorate and on December 19 he was admitted to St. John’s Medical Center. Francis and then moved to Ochsner LSU Health.
Letlow is survived by his wife, Julia Barnhill Letlow, as well as his two children, 3-year-old Jeremiah and 11-month-old Jacqueline, the newspaper reported.
“The family is grateful for the many prayers and support of the last few days, but is asking for privacy at this difficult and unexpected time,” Letlow spokesman Andrew Bautsch said in a statement to Monroe News-Star.
Letlow was due to be sworn in on Sunday in Congress after winning the Pelican Fifth State District seat in a Dec. 5 runoff.