A longtime North Beach Volunteer Fire Department volunteer died while she was transporting a patient to the hospital Saturday.
Patricia Ann “Pat” Osburn was tending to a patient in the back of the ambulance while Ryan Lockrow drove the rig to Calvert
"When the ambulance arrived at the hospital, Lockrow found Captain Osburn motionless in the rear seat of the ambulance. He quickly checked for a pulse with negative results," Calvert County Sheriff Mike Evans shared in a statement. "Lockrow then ran into the Emergency Room for assistance."
Hospital staff began immediate treatment, but Osburn was pronounced dead at 6:49 a.m.
Osburn joined the North Beach Volunteer Fire Department in 1999 and received her Emergency Medical Technician certification in 2000. Over the years she was promoted to rescue sergeant, rescue lieutenant and rescue captain.
"While remaining active operationally, she also served on various committees to contribute selflessly to fundraising, banquets, membership drives and many other vital areas of our volunteer corporation," Chief Joey R. Keller posted on the department's Facebook page. "Her dedication to the department earned her many awards including Squadsman of the Year, Top EMS Runner for several years as well as numerous recognitions for saving lives."
“She ran calls at 2 a.m. or 10 p.m.,” Keller told Southern Maryland Newspapers Online. “It didn’t matter.”
Two of her daughters, Kristina Dillon and Kimberly Osburn, served as EMTs at the North Beach Volunteer Fire Department, the newspaper reported.
“It’s rare now ... to put that kind of time and effort” in for that long," Keller added, noting that Osburn "never went around bragging about anything, this and that. She’s a pretty humble person.”
"Words cannot adequately express my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Captain Patricia Ann Osburn along with the North Beach Volunteer Fire Department,” Evans wrote.
"Her dedication to serving the community was immense and her influence, and friendship, will be greatly missed by all members and officers of the North Beach Volunteer Fire Department," Keller said.
