   ACCORDING TO INITIAL POLICE INVESTIGATION, ON THE MORNING OF DECEMBER 4, 1996, THE DECEASED STARTED DRINKING HEAVY.  LATER THAT EVENING, HE COMPLAINED OF SHORTNESS OF BREATH AND SUDDENLY COLLAPSED.  FIRE RESCUE WAS CALLED AND UPON ARRIVAL, FOUND HIM UNRESPONSIVE, WITHOUT VITAL SIGNS, WITH EKG MONITOR SHOWING V-FIB AND IN CARDIAC ARREST.  EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS ADMINISTERED AND HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO NORTHSHORE MEDICAL CENTER EMERGENCY ROOM.
   UPON ARRIVAL AT THE EMERGENCY ROOM, HE REMAINED UNRESPONSIVE AND IN FULL CARDIAC ARREST WITH EKG MONITOR REMAINING IN VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION.  ADVANCE CARDIAC LIFE SUPPORT WAS ADMINISTERED, HOWEVER, WITHOUT SUCCESS AND AT 6:39P.M., HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD.
    HE HAS A PAST MEDICAL HISTORY OF ASTHMA AND BRONCHITIS.  HE DRANK HEAVY, AND CONTINUED SMOKING EVEN WHILE USING THE OXYGEN MACHINE.