By FireRescue1 Staff
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Family members and friends are mourning the death of firefighter recruit Xavier Allen Jr., who died Nov. 5 after a fire academy agility test.
Officials reported Allen, 23, passed out after the test and never regained consciousness. Firefighters attempted to revive him, but Allen died at the hospital, reported News4Jax.
“He was just a big teddy bear,” Allen’s mother, La’Treasia Allen said. “We would just squeeze him. He just made you feel good. He was just a good guy, a seriously good guy.”
Allen said her son was inspired to become a firefighter after assisting a man who lost his arm in an industrial incident last year. She said Allen did not have any previous medical conditions.
Jacksonville Fire Chief and Fire Academy Director Sheldon Reed said Allen’s physician signed off on his physical evaluation. “We establish a safety culture,” Chief Reed said. “We try and take every precaution that we can, and it’s just tough.”
A medical examiner will conduct an autopsy to determine Allen’s cause of death. Three separate investigations regarding Allen’s death are underway by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Florida State College at Jacksonville and the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
A GoFundMe account has been started to help raise funds to pay for Allen’s funeral services.
Firefighter student dies during physical fitness training at Fire Academy of the South. Xavier Allen Jr. was 23. Story at 5 & 6. pic.twitter.com/olKBdyADha
— Vic Micolucci - WJXT (@WJXTvic) November 7, 2016
PHOTO: @FSCJ_Official student Xavier Allen Jr. died while taking test for firefighting academy. https://t.co/uf8nVkriko pic.twitter.com/d0p13I1E1C
— ActionNewsJax (@ActionNewsJax) November 7, 2016