Marion Barber’s cause of death revealed and is heartbreaking

Former Cowboys running back Marion Barber died of heat stroke in a tragic accident in his Dallas area apartment, the medical examiner determined.

The details of Marion Barber’s death make a tragic situation even more heartbreaking.

The Collin County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the death of the former Cowboys running back was an accident caused by heat stroke.

USA Today obtained a copy of Barber’s autopsy report, which revealed the sad details.

Marion Barber’s cause of death revealed as heat stroke

The 38-year-old’s heat stroke was not caused by the weather, although it was certainly warm in Texas at the time.

According to USA Today, Barber was discovered in his Frisco apartment on June 1 when a neighbor reported water leaking from his residence. Police officers conducting a wellness check entered the apartment, which had a bathtub faucet running and the thermostat set on heat mode at 91 degrees.

Apparently, Barber exercised in “sauna-like conditions”, and police noted exercise equipment in the apartment.

Although his exact time of death is unknown, something evidently went wrong at some point during the last week of May. Barber’s family had not heard from him in six days when his body was found.

Barber played for the Cowboys from 2005 to 2010, making one Pro Bowl appearance. In six seasons in Dallas, he averaged 726 yards per year. In 2006, he scored 16 total touchdowns. The next year, he tallied a career-best 975 yards.

In 2011, he signed with the Bears and played one season in Chicago before retiring in 2012 at the age of 29. According to an assessment listed on NBCSportsEdge, “Barber was the personification of short shelf lives for power running backs in the NFL.”

Knowing his cause of death may help explain why he’s gone, but it doesn’t allay the grief felt by the family, friends, teammates and fans who mourn his absence.