Man in his 80s found dead in rice field after leaving home on ATV

Police in Seosan, South Chungcheong Province, are investigating the cause of death of a man in his 80s found dead in a rice field, with heat-related illness among the possibilities being examined.

The man, identified only as A, was discovered in a rice field in Eumam-myeon, Seosan, at around 7:28 a.m. Friday, according to Seosan police.

A nearby resident called emergency services to report that someone had collapsed. Firefighters who responded found A already dead.

Investigators determined that A had left his home around 11 a.m. Thursday on a four-wheeled ATV. When he failed to return and could not be reached, his family filed a missing persons report with police at around 8:50 p.m. that day.

The ATV believed to have been ridden by A was found overturned beside his body.

"We are investigating the exact cause of death, including whether it was a simple traffic accident or a fatality caused by heat-related illness," a police official said.