Woman Freezes to Death Trying to Rescue Wheelchair-bound Husband

An elderly woman died in Georgia from hypothermia on Wednesday after trying to rescue her husband who had fallen out of his wheelchair.

Roy Riffe, 86, fell on the ground after his wheelchair rolled off the path near their house about 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, local news outlet 13 WMAZ reports. He said he yelled for his wife’s help when he could not get up. Maria Riffe, 74, fell on the walkway while trying to reach her husband. The couple was found the next morning around 10:30 in their yard about 20 yards apart from one another. Maria had died while Roy was still turned over in his wheelchair.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s said the husband was wearing a winter coat and fleece pants, which protected him from the cold. The wife was only wearing a house jacket and froze to death.

Roy Riffe was recovering in the hospital Thursday.