Minnetonka Firefighter Tim Tripp was showing a rookie how to pump water when he fell on ice.
Source Firehouse.com News
A Minnesota firefighter is used to attacking flames and extricating patients from wrecked vehicles.
Now, Minnetonka Firefighter Tim Tripp is in another battle — for his life after a freak incident.
Tripp was training a rookie on pump operations when he slipped on the ice and hit his head, FOX 9 reported.
The 14-year part-time firefighter was in a public park pumping water into an ice rink when he fell.
Tripp was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center, where he was placed in a medically induced coma, and doctors performed several surgeries to relieve pressure on his brain.
“I think this week has been a bit of a roller coaster for us here at the fire department. The news at the beginning was absolutely terrible. That one of our own had gone down,” said Minnetonka Firefighter Sara Ahlquist.
Tripp is a part-time firefighter and self-employed. That’s why Minnetonka Fire set up a GoFundMe campaign to help his family pay rent and bills and for his three sons to travel back to help with his recovery.
“Total shock. Very, very surprised. I’ve been in the department for 15 years and never have we had an accident like that, that’s been this devastating for anyone,” she said. “I feel like the community has stepped up to help. His kids all went to school in the area. He went to school in the area. So he’s got a lot of support coming in, and we are excited about that.”