AVON LAKE, Ohio — An off-duty firefighter working a construction job died Thursday afternoon when a wall collapsed on him.
The Chronicle-Telegram reported that Avon Lake firefighter Larry “Gomer” Heczko died instantly when a concrete wall he was working on collapsed on top of him. His distraught colleagues responded to the incident and tried to save him.
There were difficulties in accessing Heczko because of the location along Lake Erie.
Avon Lake Fire Chief Chris Huerner said Heczko was a 23-year veteran of the department.
“He was a great firefighter,” Chief Huerner said. “All of us here at the fire station are very distraught. He was well-liked, a great medic and just a good guy.”
Capt. Jim Berry said Heczko worked for a sea wall restoration company on his days off. Berry said the wall collapsed during repairs, and Heczko fell 12 feet onto a concrete slab with the collapsed breakwall falling on top of him, according to the report.
“The whole department is devastated by his loss,” Avon Lake Mayor Greg Zilka said. “For the firefighters and paramedics that responded to the call, it was very difficult for them to find one of their own in that circumstance.”
No other workers were injured during the accident and it is not clear why the wall collapsed, according to the report.
“When I got the news, I called about 15 people. We’re all in tears about it, we’re all shook up about it,” Naaman Torres, one of firefighter Heczko’s friends, said. “He was humble … a lot of people who do great things aren’t that humble.”