The term "hero"‘ is a well-worn term these days, but the final actions of Firefighter Thomas Royds seem to fit the bill.
As an alleged drunk driver hurdled towards first responders at the scene of an auto accident on Interstate 76 in Lower Merion early on the morning of July 24 Royds, covering a shift at Belmont Hills Fire Co., pushed other firefighters away as he was struck by the out of control Jeep.
Lower Merion Chief Fire Officer Chas McGarvey confirmed the report that Royds saw the jeep approaching and pushed the two firefighters away in an attempt to save them. “I haven’t seen any video of it but he one of the injured firefighters said Tommy pushed them out of the way,” McGarvey said.
Royds of Springfield was a career and volunteer firefighter for over 30 years, serving the Lower Merion community at the Union Fire Association and the Belmont Hills Fire Co. as well as seven years as a volunteer in Clifton Heights.