Leadership

D.C. Firefighter, Former Marine, Stood Guard over Body of Black Hawk Crew Chief

Feb. 4, 2025

Probationary D.C. Firefighter Sean Wathen stayed with Staff Sgt. Ryan O'Hara until he was relieved by a member of the military.

Susan Nicol

A D.C. probationary firefighter and a former Marine noticed one of the first victims recovered from the Potomac River following the mid-air collision was one of the soldiers aboard the Black Hawk helicopter.

For the next four hours, Firefighter Sean Wathen stood guard and never left Staff Sgt. Ryan O’Hara -- the crew chief of the Black Hawk -- until he was relieved by a member of the military.

“One thing that I did wanted to say and thank is all those first responders, the people that sacrificed themselves to jump into that ice cold water to go through the plane and the wreckage that retrieved our son. Thank you. There are no words to express our thanks for that. You helped bring our boy home,” Gary O'Hara told WRC.

The grieving father added that he’d like to meet the firefighters, especially Wathen, who is assigned to Engine 12 and has been on the job for about seven months.

About the Author

Susan Nicol | News Editor

Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.