While pulling people from a loading dock on the Savannah River, a firefighter suffered a medical emergency and died.
According to a news report broadcast by the television station WJCL 22ABC, Savannah Firefighter Michael Curry was helping to pull some of the more than 50 people from the river after a dock collapsed dumping people in the river.
The TV station reported medical personnel on the scene provided first aid to Curry before transporting him for treatment. He died late Saturday afternoon. Curry had worked for the Savannah Fire Department for 13 years and was also the father of an 8-year-old old boy.
Savannah Fire Chief Charles Middleton said in a statement to the television station it is the first time he has lost a firefighter in the line of duty.
"We all love this profession," Middleton said. "We are all expecting, at some point, any of us could be answering our last alarm."
Savannah Fire, Southside Fire EMS and the Savannah Chatham Metropolitan Police Department responded to the scene.
