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NC fire captain dies from medical emergency on way home from shift

Waxhaw Volunteer Fire Department Capt. Ronald McGarvey served with the department for 18 years

captain ronald mcgarvey medical emergency death

Photo/Waxhaw Volunteer Fire Department

By Laura French

WAXHAW, N.C. — A North Carolina fire captain died suddenly on Monday from a medical emergency while returning home from a shift.

Waxhaw Volunteer Fire Department Capt. Ronald McGarvey served with the department for 18 years, starting as a firefighter-EMT and rising through the ranks, Fire Chief Greg Sharpe said during a news conference. He is survived by his wife and two children.

A Union County Sheriff’s Deputy was the first to respond to the scene where McGarvey had suffered a medical emergency, according to the fire department. The deputy initiated care and fellow Waxhaw firefighters soon arrived to render aid, but they were unable to revive McGarvey.

“They saw his truck and thought he was there already ahead of us, doing what he always did, serving the community,” Sharpe said. “And it was a huge shock when they found out it was him.”

Sharpe said McGarvey’s death is considered a line-of-duty death in accordance with the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act and the Dale Long PSOB Improvements Act of 2012.

“Captain McGarvey lived a life of devotion. Devotion to his fire department family, devotion to his church family, and especially devotion to his home family,” Sharpe said.

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