Chiles’ Death Attributed to Heart Rhythm

Gov. Lawton Chiles died of an abnormal heart rhythm almost eight hours before his body was found near an exercise bike in the governor’s mansion, a medical examiner said Sunday.

The governor lost consciousness and fell off the bike but did not have a heart attack as initially reported, Dr. David Stewart said. Chiles died instantly, Stewart said.

Chiles, 68, died about 8 a.m. Saturday after he took his dog, Tess, into a private recreation area of the mansion. His body was found at 3:30 p.m. when his wife, Rhea, asked about his whereabouts.

Officials said it was not uncommon for Chiles to spend several hours by himself in that private area. Chiles’ spokeswoman April Herrle said his family is “fully satisfied” that nothing could have been done to save him.

Lt. Gov. Buddy MacKay was sworn in early Sunday as Florida’s 42nd governor. He will hold office until Republican Jeb Bush is sworn in Jan. 5.

Chiles’ funeral will be held Wednesday at Faith Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee. His body will travel in a motorcade Tuesday to the Capitol from Century, the Panhandle town where Chiles began his 1,003-mile walk in 1970 during his first, successful campaign for a U.S. Senate seat.