The last firefighter injured in a deadly house explosion in February was met with applause from doctors, nurses, technicians, friends and fire service colleagues as he was wheeled out of the hospital Wednesday afternoon.
The person with the widest smile was Sterling Firefighter Brian Diamond who has been in the Washington Hospital Center's MedStar Burn Unit for more than a month after suffering burns while investigating the gas leark.
He took the time to thank people for their support and remember his friend, Sterling Firefighter Trevor Brown, who was killed in the blast.
"It was crazy down there and terrifying. And I had moments of clarity after saying prayers and thinking about my wife, kids...Trevor, I love Trevor,” he said adding that the two had become close, WJLA reported. "I'm just sad about what happened to Trevor..."
“There's no other explanation that I could have gotten out of that entire ordeal except for God. I was down in that basement and I said a prayer and you know, you know just God got me out of that and there's no other way."
The ambulance taking him home to his wife and four children was escorted by police officers on notorcycles, fire trucks, rescue vehicles and other apparatus.
“They are telling me that it's gonna be a long road but I'm gonna be able to that’s one of the goals that I have. I'd like to see about getting back on the fire engine."
After five surgeries, the middle school teacher also promised his students that he will return to the classroom.
Diamond, who said he volunteered to help his community, will continue to receive therapy for his burns.
