VA Recruit Dies after Medical Issue During Training

July 3, 2021
Chesterfield County Fire and EMS firefighter recruit Tyvaughn Eldridge, 26, suffered a medical emergency during daily physical training Thursday and passed away Saturday.

A Virginia firefighter recruit died Saturday when he suffered a medical emergency during training earlier in the week.

Tyvaughn Eldridge, a 26-year-old recruit with Chesterfield County Fire and EMS, encountered the medical issue during mandatory daily physical training Thursday, the department stated in an online update. He died just before 6:45 a.m. Saturday, surrounded by his family and his fellow firefighters.

"This is a tragic loss of an amazing young man who made the commitment to serve his community," the department stated. "Firefighter Tyvaughn Eldridge will always be Chesterfield Fire and EMS family."

No details were released concerning the nature of the medical emergency and how it occurred during training. The department asked for privacy as it mourns the loss.

An investigation will try to determine what led to Eldridge's fatal medical emergency, according to the U.S. Fire Administration

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