A Fort Myers firefighter recruit died after a physical assessment evaluation Tuesday at a fire station.
Nathaniel “Nate” Wilcox, 22, from Culter Bay, suffered an unknown medical emergency after the evolution was completed, Fort Myers Fire Chief Tracy McMillion told WINK, adding that aid was administered immediately.
He died at a local hospital. The family has requested an autopsy.
The training was held outside and inside the station with a 10-minute break.
While he showed no apparent signs of heat-related issues during the exercise, once it was finished, he told officers he didn't feel well.
McMillion said the department would posthumously make him a firefighter to fulfill his dream and present his family with his helmet and jacket.
He was a college grad and football player at South Carolina State University. He was also a member of Omega Phi. Firefighters said he was known as a very loving and enthusiastic person, according to NBC2.
The chief is investigating this situation so it doesn’t happen again. However, he said there was nothing more medically that they could have done on the scene to change the outcome.
"Fort Myers Fire Department is in shock and awe and grieving along with the family of one of our firefighter applicants who unfortunately died yesterday after he completed his physical assessment evaluation..We're trying to get through this as well as the family is," McMillion said.
