May 2009 LODDs

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HOUSTON FIRE CADET DIES FOLLOWING TRAINING-APPARENT NATURAL CAUSES

The Secret List www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com

A 26-year-old Houston (Texas) Fire Department cadet died early this morning apparently of natural causes after collapsing last week during routine physical training. Conway M. Johnson had just completed an early morning jog on April 29 when he collapsed...he was taken to Hermann Memorial Hospital in critical condition and remained hospitalized for the last week. Fire Cadet Johnson showed signs of improvement before worsening Monday. An autopsy will be performed by the Harris County Medical Examiner's office.

As always our sincere condolences to all affected, especially the HFD and the family of Fire Cadet Johnson.

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From the secret list:

FIRE OFFICER DIES IN THE LINE OF DUTY-MEDICAL EMERGENCY

It is with deep regret that we advise you of the LINE OF DUTY DEATH of Shreveport , LA Fire Captain Frankie P. Nelson, following a Heart Attack after an incident. Captain Nelson carried out emergency response procedures that included Incident Command, EMS assistance, and traffic safety control measures while on scene of a motor vehicle accident. He was relieved of duty at 1400 hours on May 10, 2009. Approximately eight hours after being relieved of duty at 2141 hours on May 10, 2009, he suffered a heart attack in which Shreveport Fire Department EMS responded to and transported him to the Schumpert Medical Center. He was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital. Our sincere condolences to all affected.

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An EMS LODD from the secret list:

It is with deep regret that we advise you of the EMS LINE OF DUTY DEATH of an an EMT-B with Pender EMS (responding on Union Rescue Squad) collapsed and died at the scene of a medical emergency this morning. Details when availible on www.FireNews.net. Our sincere condolences to all affected.

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MASSACHUSETTS FIREFIGHTER LODD

The Secret List www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com

It is with deep regret that we advise you of the Line of Duty Death of Beverly (MA) Firefighter Paul Roberts, IAFF Local 1669, Beverly, MA, on Friday, May 22, 2009. FF Roberts suffered a heart attack in the line of duty while responding to an emergency run on Friday. Firefighter Roberts was 54 years old and had 22 years working as a Firefighter in Beverly, MA. He leaves his wife Nancy and two children....he was also guardian to two of his grand children. As always our most sincere condolences.

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From the secret list:

While not a Firefighter LODD, this is of definite interest and easily could occur to a FF providing the same services.
A San Luis Obisbo Sheriff's Department rescue services volunteer was killed in the Line of Duty at the Oceano Dunes on Sunday when he was struck by an ambulance responding to the same EMS run.
Search & Rescue Member Christopher Meadows, 24, was a San Luis Obispo resident....he had just completed his Search and Rescue training and was due to be promoted to Medical Team Leader. He was also a full-time EMT for San Luis Ambulance.
Both the ambulance and the SAR member were responding to the same call. Meadows was riding a 4-wheel drive ATV, used to patrol and assist State Park Rangers at the popular tourist location. The SAR member was assigned to the heavily trafficked recreational area as part of the normal holiday weekend deployment of Sheriff's resources. Our condolences to the friends and family of Chris Meadows.



TWO PUBLIC SAFETY DIVERS DIE IN THE LINE OF DUTY LAST WEEK:

DIVE RESCUE LODD CALIFORNIA: A member of the Santa Cruz County (California) Underwater Recovery Team died while diving at Patagonia Lake State Park on Sunday morning. At 1028 hours on May 17 deputies responded to Patagonia Lake in reference to a possible drowning. He said the underwater recovery team was conducting routine training when member Steven Dale Osburn, 58, failed to surface from a dive.

Capt. Ike Isakson of Patagonia Volunteer Fire and Rescue said Osburn lost contact with fellow divers while at a depth of close to 60 feet. He said approximately eight minutes later Osburn was located by another member of the dive team but was unresponsive and was brought to the surface. The diver immediately began to perform CPR on Osburn. In addition to members of Patagonia Volunteer Fire and Rescue, at least one ranger from Patagonia Lake State Park was reported to be at the site.



DIVE RESCUE LODD MISSISSIPPI: A 44-year-old Itawamba County Dive Team member lost his life Wednesday during the search for a missing 15-year-old in the Buttahatchie River in Monroe County. David Sheffield, of 512 Dalton Road in Tupelo, was pronounced dead on arrival at about 1:15 p.m. at the Pioneer Community Hospital in Aberdeen. Shortly before his death, Sheffield, an Itawamba County volunteer diver, complained of breathing problems while searching for missing Smithville teen Taylor Smith in the river.

Sheffield and other members of the team had been in the water between one and two hours....Sheffield came to the surface and said he could not breathe. Emergency crews on the scene moved Sheffield by boat to the shore and began administering medical treatment before the victim was taken by ambulance to the hospital, Gurley explained. Although dive teams and emergency responders from several cities and counties have been searching for Smith nearly 18 hours per day since he was reported missing May 15, the teen's body has not yet been located.

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MISSISSIPPI FIREFIGHTER LODD WHILE RESPONDING TO A FIRE CALL (Delayed Notice)

The Secret List www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com

It is with deep regret that we advise you that Firefighter George Wimberly of the Stonewall VFD in Mississippi died in the Line of Duty. FF Wimberly was operating his privately owned vehicle in response to a reported structure fire on 4-1-09, when he slowed to a stop approx 1/2 mile from the incident scene and passed away, having succumbed to an apparent heart attack. The cause of the fire is under investigation by state authorities as being intentionally set. His funeral was held on 04/04/2009 and he is the 40th LODD for 2009.

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This is a LODD from Philadelphia. The death happened on May 20, but it was just determined to be a LODD.

PHILADELPHIA FIREFIGHTER LODD - FOLLOWING A WORKING FIRE

The Secret List www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com

Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers has advised us that a Fire Lieutenants death in the hospital has been determined to be a death in the Line of Duty. Lt. Stephen Michael Cospelich collapsed off duty April 17 after fighting a working house fire. He was rushed to a hospital, but never regained consciousness and died May 20 at the age of 56. Comm. Ayers announced today that the death was determined to be a line of duty death. As always, our sincere condolences to all affected.