North Carolina Paramedic Dies After Heart Attack While On Call

Joseph Lon Griffin, 34, a paramedic for First Health EMS in North Carolina, suffered a heart attack and died while on duty Monday morning.

While he was being paged from a local hospital to Chapel Hill, his partner found him unresponsive at the Siler City EMS station and tried unsuccessfully to resustitate him, according to Greg White from First Health EMS.

First Health EMS is a hospital-based company that holds contracts with five counties, according to White. "The whole department is left puzzled by the tragedy," said White.

"Griffin has been a paramedic on the staff since May of 1999," he said.

Visitation will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 3, at the Smith and Buckner