Heart attack believed to be cause for woman’s sudden death Friday

A 64-year-old woman who was attending Cattle Country Festival in Gonzales died from what is believed to have been a possible heart attack Friday, April 11.

The female, whose name had not been released, was brought to the medical area for assistance by a male companion on Friday evening when she collapsed. First responders on scene immediately began emergency protocols and an ambulance on site transported the woman to Gonzales Memorial Hospital’s emergency room.

ER personnel tried for some time to revive the woman, but she was later pronounced deceased (unattended by primary care physician) in accordance with state law.

Due to the nature of the death and a lack of available medical history for the deceased, Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Deidra Voigt ordered an autopsy be performed to determine the cause and manner of death. The next of kin for the individual has been notified.

Preliminary findings indicate the woman possibly suffered a fatal severe heart attack. Sheriff Keith Schmidt indicated Monday, April 14, there appeared to be no foul play involved and the death was not as a result of anything caused by the festival.

“The Gonzales County Sheriff's Office sends condolences to the family for the loss of their loved one as a result of a medical emergency at Cattle Country Fest,” Schmidt said in a statement. “Medical first responders on site did everything they possibly could for the individual, but they were unable to revive her.”

County Judge Pat Davis said Monday that Paula La Fleur, a licensed nurse, was near the individual when she suffered the medical emergency.

“With her background and experience of being a nurse, (La Fleur) immediately went into action and I just wanted to thank her for her assistance,” Davis said during a commissioners court meeting. “She was pretty shook up over it all, but she did everything that she could.”