Oct. 19 -- A firefighter and paramedic from Florida’s panhandle died Thursday after a tree fell on him as he was clearing debris left by Hurricane Michael, Florida officials say.
Brad Price, a firefighter and paramedic for the Gulf County Fire and Emergency Services was helping family members clear debris Thursday when a tree fell on the tractor he was using, the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post. Price was pronounced dead at the scene. He was 49 and lived in Wewahitchka, according to the sheriff’s office.
“He was known for his service to his community in Gulf County as well as coaching softball for many years,” sheriff’s officials said in the post.
Gulf County Fire and Emergency Services also posted a statement regarding Price’s death.
A procession of emergency vehicles followed as his body was taken to the Bay County Medical Examiners Office Thursday night.
On Wednesday, officials said 26 died from the storm that devastated Florida’s panhandle.
The storm is blamed for 16 deaths in Florida, with 12 of the fatalities in Bay County. Nationally, Michael is blamed for 26 deaths - three in North Carolina, one in Georgia and six in Virginia - though that number is expected to rise as recovery efforts continue.
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