Rabun County Firefighter Collapses While Fighting Brush Fire

From the Rabun County Fire Services: “Rabun County Fire Station 4 responded to a brush fire on 11/27/2021 at 7:35pm on Burns Lane in Lakemont. While on scene, one of our volunteer firefighters went into cardiac arrest. Firefighter Gordon Van Mol collapsed and was found pulseless and not breathing.

His fellow firefighters immediately began CPR while an AED was retrieved off of the fire apparatus. The AED was applied and Gordon was delivered 3 shocks, with the 3 rd bringing about a return of circulation.

Upon EMS arrival, Gordon was still unconscious but had a pulse and was breathing on his own. He was transported emergency to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville where he ultimately was put on a ventilator and taken to the cath lab. Gordan regained consciousness yesterday and today had surgery to implant a defibrillator.

This type of call truly highlights the advantage of quick CPR and having an AED in close proximity during sudden cardiac arrest.

We are truly thankful for our personnel on scene, for Habersham and Hall County providing assistance at the intersections to expedite his arrival to the hospital, and for all the thoughts and prayers for Gordon and his family that we have received.”