Document text
Aneurysm claimed life of Medford man during Nevada stop By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune A Medford man who collapsed in an Elko, Nev., hotel room early Wednesday reportedly died of an aneurysm. Gary Ireland, 43, was taken off life support and pronounced dead early Thursday at Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital in Elko, police said. A preliminary investigation by Elko police indicated that Ireland was wrestling with his 33-year-old brother Mark Ireland, of Ashland, when he lost consciousness in their room at the Stockmen's Hotel in Elko. Ireland's younger brothers, John and Jamie Ireland, also were in the room. The family later said Mark was trying to subdue his older brother after Gary head-butted him. Gary Ireland instigated the attack on his brother and then fell unconscious almost immediately, a police officer told Gary Woodbury, Elko County's district attorney. Gary Ireland's body showed little evidence of trauma, and it appeared no crime was involved, Woodbury said. The district attorney hasn't reviewed the reports, but charges likely will not be filed in Gary Ireland's death, he said. An autopsy was scheduled. An aneurysm that burst in Ireland's neck could have caused him to behave aggressively toward his brothers, an Elko neurologist told Ireland's mother, Janice Clark, 59, of Klamath Falls. "From what I understand, he completely went goofy," she said. The brothers were on their way to their grandmother's funeral in Nebraska and had stopped at the Elko hotel-casino. They had been drinking and gambling there before Ireland collapsed, police said. Ireland had complained of a headache, and his brothers thought he was on the verge of passing out from alcohol consumption, Clark said. Doctors told Clark that her son could have died at any time and most likely wouldn't have made it to his grandmother's funeral. Ireland's brothers said they gave him CPR for about 20 minutes before emergency crews arrived. He never regained consciousness. Ireland was employed with his brother John, of White City, who owns a utility contracting business. The husband and father of two loved softball and the outdoors, said John Ireland. Mark, John and Jamie Ireland returned to Oregon without going to their grandmother's funeral. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.