Firefighter's death classified as 'line of duty'
The death of a firefighter who collapsed while walking his dog has been recognized as a "line of duty" death because he had battled a stressful dwelling fire before going off-duty, said Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers.
The death of a firefighter who collapsed while walking his dog has been recognized as a "line of duty" death because he had battled a stressful dwelling fire before going off-duty, said Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers.
Lt. Stephen Michael Cospelich was in Germantown when he lost consciousness on April 17. He was hospitalized in a coma and died May 20. Before his collapse, he had been involved in fighting a fire in the 6300 block of Ogontz Avenue. Cospelich, 56, was a 23-year veteran of the Fire Department. - Robert Moran