A Rabun County volunteer firefighter is recovering from surgery after suffering a heart attack last week while fighting a brush fire.
64-year-old Gordon Van Mol collapsed Saturday at the fire on Burns Lane in Lakemont. Rabun County Assistant Fire Chief Justin Upchurch says Van Mol was found “pulseless and not breathing.”
“His fellow firefighters immediately began CPR while an automated external defibrillator (AED) was retrieved off of the fire apparatus,” says Upchurch. “The AED was applied and Gordon was delivered three shocks, with the third bringing about a return of circulation.”
When EMS arrived, Van Mol was still unconscious but had a pulse and was breathing on his own. EMTs transported him to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville where he ultimately was put on a ventilator and taken to the cath lab.
Upchurch says Van Mol regained consciousness Sunday and on Monday, November 29, underwent 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,” he says. “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.”
Rabun County Fire Services is a combined paid and volunteer fire department with approximately 160 personnel. Upchurch credits both the paid and volunteer staff for helping Gordon on the scene.
