By FireRescue1 Staff
GIBBSBORO, N.J. — A firefighter died April 28 from injuries sustained during a live burn training exercise.
U.S. Fire Administration reported that William Gerace, 54, with Gibbsboro Fire Company No. 1 Inc., was advancing hose line during the training April 10 when he suffered a spiral fracture to his right fibula. On April 28, Gerace was showing signs of severe respiratory difficulty.
When responders arrived, Gerace stopped breathing and went into cardiac arrest. He was transported to a hospital, where he later died. Autopsy results showed that he suffered a pulmonary embolism – a complication of his leg fracture and recovery process.
Gerace was a nine-year veteran of the department.