THOMASVILLE — A 47-year-old man whose body was found on a North Crawford Street sidewalk early Sunday morning was en route to Archbold Memorial Hospital when he died, a Thomas County deputy coroner said.

The man, Thanis Bell, 1506 South St., called someone on his cell phone around midnight Saturday, said he was experiencing shortness of breath and was going to the hospital. The person he called offered to take him to Archbold, but he declined the help, said Tim Coram, deputy Thomas County coroner.

Bell’s body was discovered about 7:30 a.m. Sunday.

“He sat down on the curb, and that’s where he passed away,” Coram said.

Bell, a local handyman, had been dead several hours when his body was discovered, the deputy coroner said.

The body was found in front of a residence near the Big Oak, which is at the intersection of North Crawford and East Monroe Street.

“A crime scene was set up, and the crime scene was processed,” Thomasville Police Department Maj. Wade Glover said.

Nothing on the body or at the scene indicated foul play.

“The individual has a medical history. It appears to be a natural death,” the officer said.

Nevertheless, Coram said, an autopsy will be performed.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820