Melbourne - Four people have been confirmed dead from a rare condition known as thunderstorm asthma that sent hundreds to hospitals in Australia's second-largest city.
Family confirmed on Wednesday that Clarence Leo had died at home early on Tuesday morning after a wild thunderstorm in Melbourne on Monday night.
It caused rain-sodden ryegrass pollen to explode and disperse over the city.
The pollen caused asthma attacks in patients who had never suffered from asthma before.
Ambulance Victoria spokesman Mick Stephenson reported a six-times larger caseload because of the asthma attacks.
Professor George Braitberg, head of the Royal Melbourne Hospital's emergency department, likened the scene in the hospital on Monday night to a war zone.
He says seven asthma patients had been transferred to the hospital's intensive care unit.
AP