Community residents joined firefighters from across Florida Saturday to pay respects to Apopka Firefighter Austin Duran who died last week of injuries sustained while on duty.
Local residents, some waving little American flags, lined the route from the funeral home to the church Saturday morning. Some told WKMG reporters that although they didn't know Duran, they wanted to honor him for his sacrifice.
Duran, 25, was moving a sand trailer at the fire station on June 30 when he was crushed. Fellow firefighters extricated him, and started administering aid. He was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center for treatment of traumatic injuries, including a shattered vertebra, fractured ribs and a punctured lung. He died several weeks later.
One woman said she is grateful for firefighters and first responders who put on their uniforms daily and go to work not knowing if they will go home.
