Feb. 11--A Selma firefighter seriously injured in routine training on Saturday remains in critical but stable condition at Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno.
About 3:30 p.m. Saturday, firefighter Chris Nelson was injured in a fall from a 24-foot ladder when he apparently passed out about half-way down, said Selma fire Chief Mike Kain.
It's not clear whether Nelson, who is in his mid 40s, fainted or had a heart attack, but when he struck the ground, firefighters needed to immediately administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Kain said.
"We don't know if something medical happened or he just passed out and fell to the ground," Kain said. "The doctors aren't sure why. They are looking at his heart and many other things. The fall caused a lot of trauma to his body."
Nelson has been a Selma firefighter for more than 10 years and the training Saturday was a routine climb, according to the chief. He was previously a Fresno County Fire Protection District reserve firefighter.
Nelson is married with two grown children, Kain said.
A fund has been set up for Nelson's family at Union Bank in Selma. For more information call Selma Fire Department, (559) 891-2211.
The reporter can be reached at (559) 441-6166, [email protected] or @beebenjamin on Twitter.
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