Times staff
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
BROOKSVILLE — A 37-year-old Hernando County Jail inmate died Monday afternoon of an apparent seizure.
Edward A. Thomas of Dade City was observed about 4:16 p.m. in the throes of a seizure by jail deputies, according to a Hernando County Sheriff's Office report. A nurse making rounds immediately responded to Thomas' cell and found him on a lower bunk, awake and responsive to her inquiries. He told her he had not experienced seizures before.
Thomas began to have trouble breathing and paramedics were called, according to the report. The nurse and deputies placed him on the floor and continued talking to him to slow his breathing. Thomas apparently experienced another seizure. Although his condition improved somewhat by the time paramedics arrived, the inmate collapsed again during an attempt to move him from his cell. He was placed in an ambulance as CPR efforts continued, but was pronounced dead at Brooksville Regional Hospital at 5:17 p.m.
Thomas had been booked into the jail Friday for failure to pay court-ordered child support. An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.