Tracy Man, Trying to Lose Weight to Enter Marines, Dies of Heat Exhaustion and Organ Failure

In July of this year, a Tracy man collapsed while attempting to lose weight at a rapid pace--all at the urging of recruiters for the Marines. The case, being handled by our Matthew Davis, uncovers some shocking conduct, as explained in a recent publication by Record.net.

Daniel Ruf was 22 years old at the time of his death. Having spent a few years working in various jobs around Tracy, he found what he hoped was a new direction in his life: joining the Marines. The problem--at least in the view of his recruiters--was his weight. Being 226 pounds, he was required to drop several pounds.

Unfortunately, after unsuccessful attempts to lose weight, Daniel undertook a radical weight-loss program at the suggestion of his recruiters. That program included taking diuretics, and working out while covered with heat-trapping materials. Hours before his death, he was wearing both plastic as well as a scuba-diving suit, and was running on a treadmill. Not surprisingly, he collapsed, and never recovered.

During his last workout, Daniel's body temperature reached 108 degrees, and he went into organ failure. Attempts to revive him failed about 24 hours after he collapsed, and he died shortly thereafter.

Matt Davis is now handling this case on behalf of Daniel's mother, Audrey. Under the Federal Tort Claims Act, Mr. Davis has now filed the claim, a prerequisite to filing a lawsuit to recover for this wrongful death.