Louisiana Rep.-elect Luke Letlow, who died battling COVID-19, suffered a heart attack following a procedure, a hospital official said.
The 41-year-old was being treated in Ochsner LSU Health’s intensive care unit in Shreveport when he died Tuesday, the Monroe News-Star reported.
GE Ghali, Chancellor of LSU Health Shreveport, confirmed that Letlow underwent surgery related to the virus and later went into cardiac arrest.
“It’s devastating for our entire team,” Ghali told the paper, adding that he “had no underlying conditions.”
The Republican had first announced that he had tested positive for the virus on December 18 and said he would be quarantined at his home in Richland Parish.
But his health started to deteriorate and on December 19 he was admitted to St. Francis Medical Center and eventually transferred to Ochsner LSU Health.
Letlow is survived by his wife, Julia Barnhill Letlow, in addition to his two children, 3-year-old Jeremiah and 11-month-old Jacqueline, the paper reported.
“The family appreciates the numerous prayers and support over the past few days, but demands privacy during this difficult and unexpected time,” Letlow spokesman Andrew Bautsch said in a statement to the Monroe News-Star.
Letlow was to be sworn in to Congress on Sunday after winning the Pelican State’s 5th district seat in a December 5 run-off race.