By Bill Carey
FireRescue1
FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Fort Myers Fire Department announced that a firefighter recruit died on July 11 after completing his physical assessment and evaluation.
Fire Chief Tracy McMillion said the department is experiencing “heavy hearts” over the loss of Nathaniel Lee Wilcox, 22, from Cutler Bay, FOX4 reported.
The department plans to make Wilcox an honorary firefighter.
McMillion said Wilcox had medical complications during the physical assessment evaluation and said he was not feeling well but showed no signs of heat exhaustion, WINK reported.
An investigation has begun on the cause of Wilcox’s death. His family is awaiting the results of an autopsy.
Trending
With the 2026 Winter Olympic Games underway, check out these first responders who served both locally and on the international stage
FireRescue1 readers share when they joined, what “ready” really means, and why leadership, mentoring and mental health support matter
The animal-rights group is giving 3rd Lt. Pete Bergamo a Compassionate Firefighter Award after he waded into icy water to save a goose trapped on the Bantam River
Modesto firefighters responded to a reported structure fire and conducted an aggressive interior attack and search after 911 calls reported someone inside