The Burton Fire District is without one of its brothers on Monday after a firefighter fell seriously ill during a call on Sunday afternoon.
It all started around noon on Sunday when firefighters responded to a call about a motor vehicle accident in the Pinewood district of Beaufort. Shortly after they arrived at the scene, however, it was one of their own men who was in the most critical condition of all.
“You know, when you start treating somebody that is within a group of people that you know, it always kicks up the anxiety level a little bit," said Danny Tinnel, paramedic senior crew chief of the Beaufort County EMS.
Stuart Hardy, 31, is a Marine Corps veteran and was one of the firefighters that was called to the scene of a motor vehicle accident on Sunday But within moments of arriving at the scene, something went terribly wrong.
"While on scene, he was getting ready to assist an injured occupant when he suffered a serious medical emergency," said Burton Fire District spokesman Daniel Byrne.
Byrne said the cause and details of Hardy's condition are still unknown, but it's not the first time a firefighter has fallen ill on the job.
"A handful of times, I've probably seen something like this occur,” said Tinnel. “Where you have someone injured or some medical condition gives them a problem while they're on a scene like this."
Firefighters go under a lot of stress when they respond to these emergencies. Luckily, Byrne said those involved in the motor vehicle accident escaped with minor injuries. Instead, Hardy received live-saving assistance on the spot.