The Houston Fire Department is mourning the loss of one of its own after a cadet collapsed and died Thursday morning during a training exercise.
Steven Whitfield II, 32, was participating in an obstacle course when he collapsed near the end, according to firefighters. Authorities said other cadets and instructors on the course noticed Whitfield was in trouble and quickly rescued him. Noticing he was in need of CPR, the group immediately worked to resuscitate him but were unsuccessful, officials said. The cadet was taken to Memorial Hermann Texas Trauma Institute, where doctors continued to work on him. Whitfield was later pronounced dead at 12:48 p.m.
"It is a dangerous job and he signed up for a dangerous assignment," Mayor Sylvester Turner said. "While in the line of duty preparing for this particular job, being a public servant, he lost his life. This city will be forever grateful."