Off-Duty Firefighter Saves Fla. Deputy from Burning Cruiser
Source Officer.com News
An off-duty Florida firefighter is being credited with saving the life of a sheriff's deputy by pulling him out of a burning cruiser following a crash over the weekend.
The amazing rescue happened shortly before 10:30 a.m. Saturday after Seminole County Sheriff's Deputy Matthew Luxon suffered a medical emergency and crashed into an overpass support in Sanford, WESH-TV reports. At the time, Orlando firefighter Lt. Ben Wootson, who was off duty and driving with his son, saw the crash and drove to the scene to help.
According to the Orlando's firefighters union, Wootson arrived at Luxon's burning vehicle and pulled the deputy to safety. Wootson also began assessing Luxon's for injuries.
"(Wootson) immediately utilized the Deputies radio notifying dispatch there was an officer down, providing an accurate location and requesting the Fire Department for medical care," Orlando Professional Firefighters, IAFF Local 1365 stated in an online post.
Photos from the incident show flames and thick black smoke issuing from the deputy's patrol vehicle. Flame engulfed the cruiser's passenger compartment roughly 20 seconds after Wootson got Luxon to safety, the firefighters union stated.
Luxon—who has been with the Seminole County Sheriff's Office for over seven years and is a member of the agency's SWAT unit—was rushed to the hospital following the crash. He has undergone two surgeries and is preparing for more, according to GoFundMe campaign for the deputy.
"He is on the mend and starting to feel a little bit better!" stated an update on the GoFundMe page, which has raised over $26,000 to help Luxor's family pay medical bills.
"Matt is an all around great person with a great sense of humor," the site stated. "Matt’s wife (a Volusia County teacher) and two boys are going to need all the help they can get and we want to be there for them!"
Both the Orlando firefighters union and the Seminole County Sheriff's Office praised Wootson for his heroic efforts in saving Luxor.
"His quick thinking and sound judgement saved this Deputies life," the firefighters union stated. "His actions exemplifies what it is to be an Orlando Fire Fighter. We are never off duty and are always willing to step in and assist however possible. I know you will be as proud of him and his heroic actions as we are."
