PHILADELPHIA, Miss. — A fire captain collapsed and died May 6 an hour after responding to a run.
The Neshoba Democrat reported that Captain Dwight Greer, 44, with the Philadelphia (Miss.) Fire Department, collapsed while playing basketball at the firehouse while on duty. Fellow firefighters tried to revive him, but were unsuccessful.
“Watching my men work on one of their own was the hardest thing I have been part of and hope to never see it again,” Fire Chief Pierce Clark said.
He was pronounced dead at the hospital that night.
Mayor James Young said Capt. Greer had a big personality and was a gentle giant, according to the report.
“He loved the fire department and he loved what he did,” Mayor Young said. “I think all the manpower was down there last night. We spent probably about 45 minutes to an hour just talking and praying with each other, just trying to keep it together.”
Capt. Greer was a 21-year fire service veteran. He was not married and did not have any children.