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CALGARY- The cold weather may be to blame for the deaths of two people in just two days.

On Sunday morning, a woman in her 80’s was found lying in a parking lot along Coachway Road S.W.

EMS rushed her to hospital in life-threatening condition, but she later died.

Police said the senior lived at a nearby apartment complex and was found only in her nightclothes. It’s believed she suffered from dementia may have tried to go for a walk at night.

Then on Monday morning, a man in his 60’s was found collapsed outside a church in Forest Lawn.

Earlier, the staff had noticed he appeared to be freezing and offered him a hot drink and something warm to wear. But he refused, and died right outside the doors.

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Emergency workers say sometimes people get caught out in the cold unexpectedly.

“People may not recognize when they’re in danger, and wander out not dressed appropriately,” explains Adam Loria from EMS. “They choose to do thing at strange times, like going for a walk and get disoriented and lost.”

70 emergencies related to cold weather were reported to EMS last winter.

With files from Jill Croteau

