Coroner: Natural causes killed man found dead next to stolen lawn mower

A man found dead after he attempted to load a stolen lawn mower onto a pickup truck Tuesday died of natural causes, according to the Berkeley County Coroner’s Office.

Robert Catchings, 55, of Ladson, was found dead beside a pickup truck at the intersection of East Lakeside Drive and Holly Court in Hanahan, an incident report states.

Hanahan police say Catchings used two large pieces of wood as a makeshift ramp in his attempts to load a red lawn mower onto the back of the truck.

At first police thought the lawn mower fell on Catchings, Lt. Michael Fowler said Tuesday.

Investigators determined, however, that Catchings was not pinned beneath the equipment, the report states.

Berkeley County Coroner Bill Salisbury announced Wednesday that Catchings died of a “cardiac event.”

A man told police the lawn mower was stolen from his Holly Court residence.

The property was returned to its owner Tuesday, according to the report.

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