Northwest student apparently died of heart attack

According to preliminary findings issued today by the Nodaway County coroner and a licensed medical examiner, a Northwest student who died this week in his residence hall room apparently succumbed to a heart attack that may have been caused by a hereditary condition.

Joseph W. Dirksen, 24, of Danbury, Iowa, was found unresponsive in his South Complex residence hall room shortly after noon on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Campus Safety officers were notified and responded immediately to the scene.

Northwest will release further information as it becomes available.

For more information, please contact:

Anthony Brown,
News Bureau Manager
E-Mail: abrown@nwmissouri.edu
Phone: 660.562.1704
Fax: 660.562.1900

Northwest Missouri State University
219 Administration Building,
800 University Drive
Maryville, MO 64468

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