VERNONIA, Ore. -- Fire crews who responded to a water problem at a Vernonia home Thursday found the body of a 71-year-old man, investigators said.

A broken pipe in the home's ceiling was dropping water onto the man when his body was discovered, said Sgt. Dustin Hald of the Columbia County Sheriff's Office.

Hald said it appeared the man was trying to fix the pipe when he either slipped or suffered a medical condition, causing him to fall.

The man appeared to have died of exposure with the cold water landing onto him, Hald said.

At the time deputies arrived, there were icicles hanging from the man's ceiling where the water was flowing. Hald also said the man had been dead for about five to six hours.

Sub-freezing temperatures reached single digits in Vernonia on Thursday morning.