New Bedford's Mayor says a 53-year-old city man died after shoveling snow during this week's blizzard.

Mayor Jon Mitchell said at a news conference Wednesday that the man suffered a ``cardiac event'' while shoveling snow on Tuesday night.

Mitchell says the man apparently had a pre-existing heart condition.

Det. Captain Steve Vicente identified the man as James Lake of New Bedford.

Lake had volunteered to help remove snow at a North End business Tuesday night when he collapsed.

In a statement released Wednesday afternoon the Mayor's Office says the ambulance was dispatched from St. Luke's Hospital, and their was no delay in its response.  That question had been raised by reporters earlier.

Also, New Bedford Fire Dept. personnel were already caring for the man when the ambulance arrived. The Mayor offered his condolences to the Lake family.

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