The Coroner’s Office has received the results from Richmond County Sheriff’s Sgt. Greg Meagher’s autopsy.
“The cause of death will be listed as: Environmental Suffocation. The cause of death was due to a very low oxygen concentration atmosphere inside the building,” Coroner Mark Bowen said Monday morning in a press release.
The 33-year veteran died Feb. 5 after being exposed to liquid nitrogen while attempting to rescue a woman at Xytex medical facility in Augusta.
Sgt. Meagher and several other deputies responded to Xytex for a burglar alarm and discovered liquid nitrogen fumes coming from under the door. An employee went inside to turn of the valve. Meagher soon followed when she didn’t return, and he collapsed.
The employee was taken to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center and four other deputies were treated for lesser injuries.
