Indiana Firefighter Dies After Experiencing Medical Emergency While Battling House Fire: ‘Everyone’s Hero'
Rick Sanders, a grandfather of four, had just celebrated his 48th birthday on Dec. 6
Rick Sanders, a grandfather of four, had just celebrated his 48th birthday on Dec. 6 Walker Funeral Home Richard Lloyd Sanders:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Richard-Lloyd-Sanders-Obituary-121724-tout-f5d2ae2c61f94f099cf10e3430d03020.jpg "Richard Lloyd Sanders")
An Indiana firefighter has died after he reportedly experienced a medical emergency while battling a local house fire.
Richard "Rick" Lloyd Sanders was fighting the house fire in the area of Watson and Brown Streets of Winchester on Thursday, Dec. 12, when he “began to feel unwell” while inside the building, according to a news release shared on Facebook by the Winchester Fire Department (WFD).
Sanders “exited the residence,” and was being assessed by medics on site when he “went into cardiac arrest,” fire officials said.
Crews took “quick and aggressive action” to revive Sanders, who was transported to St. Vincent Randolph Hospital “where he succumbed to his illness.” Walker Funeral Home Richard Lloyd Sanders
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Sanders is remembered in his obituary as “an amazing father, brother [and] uncle” who “had no fear and lived life at full speed.”
The grandfather of four, known to many as “the favorite grumpy person,” had just celebrated his 48th birthday on Dec. 6.
“Rick was everyone's hero,” the obituary stated. “He was the ONE you call—for anything. There was nothing he would not tackle. He was the one running TO the dangerous situation when everyone else was running away.”
The passage continued, “Rick will leave a giant void in this community, and it would take a small army to fill his shoes. But no one or no one thing would ever come close to filling the void in our hearts right now.”
Sanders became a firefighter in 2008, and worked for both Winchester and White River Township Fire Departments, according to his obituary. He was also the owner of Sanders' Service Auto Repair and Towing “for the past 22 years.”
The father of four “loved fast trucks, motorcycles, scuba diving and roller coasters that scared the crap out of his wife,” as well as “camping with family.”
“He had a huge personality, never met a stranger and could talk to anyone for hours,” the obituary stated.
Members of the WFD bid their friend and colleague farewell in the department’s news release, noting that the sacrifices he made for his community “will never be forgotten.”
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“Firefighter Rick Sanders served his community faithfully and diligently for the majority of his adult life,” fire officials said before directing the message to the late firefighter.
“Rick, from your brothers at WFD, we love you, we will miss you and we thank you for paying the ultimate sacrifice for us and for the community around you,” they continued. “... Rest in peace 4510, we will carry your legacy with us.”
Sanders is survived by his wife of 20 years, their four children and their four grandchildren, with a fifth grandchild on the way, according to the WFD.
