In a sobering reminder of the risks associated with Arizona's scorching summers, HVAC technician Matt Nelson, age 58, tragically lost his life to extreme heat exposure while working in an attic in Dewey, where temperatures soared to 150 degrees. This incident occurred on July 1, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix. Nelson, an experienced technician and Army veteran, had launched his own HVAC business in the past year.
His niece, Courtney McKnight, described the overwhelming heat Nelson faced that day. "It was hot. It was hot. And he had been in an attic. And the attic temperatures had reached 150," she said in a statement obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix. McKnight recounted how Nelson collapsed shortly after exiting the attic, with his partner returning from getting drinks to find him unresponsive on the ground.
Nelson's death has now opened up a conversation on the dangers of working in hazardous heat conditions. According to a report by Yahoo News, Nelson was well-loved, remembered as "a warm, goofy, and ever-present figure" by his step-daughter, Autumn Hankins.
The family's grief is paired with a resolve to prevent further tragedies of this nature. "It's incredibly important because I would hate for anyone else to have to go through this," Hankins said, urging others to recognize and mitigate the risks of extreme heat. A GoFundMe to help support Nelson's funeral costs and medical bills has been established to also provide immediate relief to the family during this time.
