TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) -- Tallahassee fire fighters constantly train to help save lives and rescue people from life threatening situations.
It's that very training that helped them save the life of one of their own recently.
On November 14, Firefighters Steve Box, 55, was taking part in physical fitness training at the Tallahassee Fire Department's training grounds at 2964 Municipal Way. Dressed in a firefighter coat, helmet and air pack, Box was making his way through the course.
He was making his way up the stairs of a five-story training tower when he suddenly became unconscious.
More than seven fellow firefighters quickly rushed to aid putting their life-saving training into action. They quickly began CPR after assessing that Box had gone into cardiac arrest and wasn't breathing.
Box was rushed to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital where doctors were able to determine that Box has had a heart attack due to arterial blockage. After several hours in surgery, the recovery began.
"Everything is blank from the time I woke up, to the time I was in the hospital," Firefighter Box told WTXL Photojournalist Anthony Murdock as he recalls the events of that day. "I don't think I can give you enough words to say how thankful I am. I'll never forget them for the rest of my life. They will be embedded in my mind."
Box says he is thankful it happened at the training facility where help was just feet away.
"I was lucky because I was here," Box said. "I had a lot of paramedics, guys that just knew what they were doing. Praise God that they were here and did what they did."
Box adds that he now has a renewed passion to return the favor, return to work, and help save lives.
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