Tragedy struck in Tennessee when a 66-year-old man succumbed to a heart attack while clearing snow at his residence, as per several reports referencing the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office.

Emergency medical responders declared the man deceased shortly after reaching his home, according to WALA-TV, which quoted Haywood County Sheriff Billy Garrett. The man’s name has not been released pending notification of his family.

Medical professionals have long cautioned against the dangers of shoveling snow, particularly highlighting the physical demands it places on older individuals. Although there is no definitive age considered too old for this task, cardiologists often advise people over the age of 45 to take extra precautions to minimize the risk of heart-related incidents.

The incident involved a 66-year-old man from Tennessee who suffered a fatal heart attack while shoveling snow. (Kristen Prahl/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

A 2025 analysis by the Mayo Clinic highlighted that engaging in just 10 minutes of intense snow shoveling can elevate the heart rate to nearly 97% of its peak capacity. Additionally, cold temperatures were noted to raise blood pressure and diminish coronary blood flow.

Dr. Navjot Kaur Sobti, an interventional cardiologist at Northwell’s Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, N.Y., told Fox News Digital that individuals above the age of 65 who have risk factors for heart disease should be “very, very cautious about shoveling snow.”

Sobti recommends using a “pushing or sweeping” motion instead of heavy lifting when shoveling snow.

Damaged ice-covered trees and downed power lines block a road during a winter storm in east Nashville, Tenn., on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026.  (Kate Dearman/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The Tennessee Department of Health has reported eight weather-related fatalities across seven counties in a matter of days. The counties include Cheatham, Crockett, Davidson, Haywood, Hickman, Knox and Obion. The Crockett County Sheriff’s Office told WMC-TV that one of the deceased was an 11-year-old boy, though the office reportedly did not share how the child died.

As of Tuesday evening, Tennessee remained at a Level 3 State of Emergency, which is the designation given when “a serious emergency or minor disaster” has taken place. 

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) said on Tuesday that restoring power remains the state’s priority, adding that prolonged cold temperatures have put a strain on the state’s utility systems. TEMA also said the state is still seeing hazardous road conditions due to ice and refreezing, as well as “limited effectiveness of treatments in extreme cold.”

Aerial view of snow and ice-covered landscape on Jan. 26, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

Fox News Digital reached out to the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office and the Tennessee Department of Health.