April 17--A veteran Memphis firefighter died late Saturday after collapsing while fighting a house fire.
The fire happened around 11:34 p.m. and was brought under control shortly after fire crews arrived.
Lt. Rodney Eddins, 57, collapsed in the house fire in the 4500 block of Marigold Lane in the Westwood area. He had been with the MFD for 30 years. He was with the crew looking for any hot spots, Memphis Fire Department spokesman Lt. Wayne Cooke said.
Firefighters brought Eddins out of the house and attempted CPR, Cooke said. Eddins was taken to Methodist South Hospital in Whitehaven in critical condition, but later died, Cooke said.
Ray McFarland, 54, whose daughter and grandchildren live in the Westwood home, said that after the fire was under control he saw Eddins go into the home and a few moments later, around 1:20 a.m., he saw firefighters taking him out.
"When someone loses their life trying to help you, you feel regret," McFarland said. "You have no idea how frightening that was. I almost passed out (when I saw them taking Eddins out of the home)."
Mayor Jim Strickland said in a statement: "Melyne and I were saddened to learn of the passing of Lietenant Rodney Eddins, a 30-year veteran of the Memphis Police Department. We send our deepest condolences to the Eddins family and the Mmephis Fire family at this time."
In a statement, the Fire Department said: "Our prayers are extended to the family, loved ones and friends."
There is no cause of death for Eddins and the fire is still under investigation, Cooke said. No other injuries were reported.
Cooke was unsure if Eddins' death would officially count as a line-of-duty death; MFD Director Gina Sweat plans a news conference at 2:30 today.
On April 20, 2005, MFD Driver David O'Conner suffered a cerebral aneurysm while responding to a fire, and later died. He's listed ont he firefighter's union's memorial page. The last two firefighter's killed in a blaze were Trent Kirk and Charles Zachary, who were killed in an arson fire at the Frayser Family Dollar on June 15, 2003.
Staff photographer Michael Brown contributed to this article.
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