Hope Valley Fire Fighter survives heart attack while at scene of Richmond fire

By: News Staff

Email: news@abc6.com

Twitter: @ABC6

HOPE VALLEY, R.I. (WLNE) – While on the scene of the Richmond fire that happened last Sunday, July 29, a Fire Fighter suffered, and survived a heart attack. 

Luckily no civilians were injured when a large fire destroyed Meadowbrook Waldorf school on Sunday, but firefighters from the Hope Valley volunteer department had a scare of their own.

Christine Williams and her husband Keith both volunteer for the department, and were both helping fill tanker trucks from a hydrant Sunday, when Keith began feeling tired, and passed out after sitting down on the bumper of the truck.

Luckily for Keith fellow volunteer firefighter and EMS Kevin Yeaw was nearby and realized what was happening.
Yeaw immediately started doing chest compressions before shocking Williams with an AED restarting his heart.

The maneuver saved Williams life as doctors say only about one percent of people who suffer a heart attack of that magnitude survive.
Keith Williams is still at Rhode Island Hospital but his wife says he is in good spirits and expected to make a full recovery.

The Williams family has not spoken to Yeaw since the incident but they want to express their gratitude to their fellow first responder.
 

© WLNE-TV 2018