Fairfield firefighter awake, alert after last week's collapse
(Photo courtesy Fairfield Fire Department, Graphic by Solano NewsNet)
A Fairfield firefighter who collapsed while on the scene of a residential fire last week has regained consciousness, is awake and alert, the fire department confirmed on Wednesday.
Ryan Hughes, 33, suffered from a cardiac arrest while assigned to assist fellow fire crews at the scene of a backyard fire along the 500 block of Arkansas Street last week. He was rushed to an area hospital, where doctors and nurses were successfully able to regain a pulse, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The incident was first reported by Solano NewsNet last Thursday and confirmed by the fire department one day later.
In an update provided by the fire department on Wednesday, officials thanked medical staff at North Bay Medical Center for helping to save Hughes’ life.
“At North Bay, emergency room doctors and staff were successfully able to resuscitate Ryan,” an official wrote in an update. “Thanks to the ICU and specialized staff, Ryan regained consciousness a few days later. He is awake, alert, and able to verbally communicate with his loved ones, friends, family, and hospital staff.”
Officials say the firefighter “still has a long way to go” when it comes to his recovery, but “the outlook for Ryan is exceptionally favorable.”
The firefighter’s medical episode occurred during the start of a multi-day heat wave in Solano County. At the time of the fire, the outdoor air temperature was over 100 degrees. It was not clear if the heat played a role in his cardiac arrest.
“This incident was terrifying for Ryan’s family and friends,” a fire official said, noting that the firefighter’s wife is a Livermore Police Officer.
“The quick actions of his friends and medical staff made this Father’s Day even more special for Ryan and his family,” the agency said, adding that they will continue to provide updates throughout the firefighter’s recovery.
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