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Firefighter Andrew Brown returned home after nearly two months of relearning how to use his arms and legs, the Orange County Fire Department announced Friday.
Brown was one of eight OCFA members hospitalized on Sept. 19 when their fire truck overturned while returning home after battling an airport fire.
“I thought I was going to die in the ambulance,” Brown said.
Officials said the single-vehicle accident was caused by a ladder that fell onto the road, deflecting an oncoming fire truck and causing the vehicle to collide with a guardrail and overturn.
Multiple patients were airlifted to the hospital after an Orange County Fire Department truck crashed on Highway 241 on September 19, 2024. (KTLA) Multiple patients were airlifted to the hospital after an Orange County Fire Department truck crashed on Highway 241 in September. September 19, 2024 (KTLA) On September 19, 2024, a road ladder caused a driver to swerve and overturn a fire truck in Irvine. (KTLA) Multiple patients were airlifted to the hospital after an Orange County Fire Department truck crashed into the road. September 19, 2024 on Highway 241. (KTLA) Multiple patients were airlifted to the hospital after an Orange County Fire Department truck crashed on Highway 241 on September 19, 2024. (KTLA) On September 19, 2024, an Orange County Fire Department truck crashed on Highway 241. (KTLA) Multiple patients were airlifted to the hospital after an Orange County Fire Department truck crashed on Highway 241 on September 19, 2024. (KTLA) A patient was airlifted to the hospital after an Orange County Fire Department truck crashed on Highway 241 on September 19, 2024. (KTLA) Multiple patients were airlifted to the hospital after an Orange County Fire Department truck crashed on Highway 241 on September 19th. September 19, 2024. (KTLA) Multiple patients were airlifted to the hospital on September 19, 2024 after an Orange County Fire Department truck crashed on Highway 241. (KTLA) Multiple patients were airlifted to the hospital after an Orange County Fire Department truck crashed. Collision occurred on September 19, 2024 on Highway 241. (KTLA) Multiple patients were airlifted to the hospital after an Orange County Fire Department truck crashed on Highway 241 on September 19, 2024. (KTLA) Multiple patients were airlifted to the hospital. An Orange County Fire Department truck crashed on Highway 241 on September 19, 2024, sending a man to the hospital. (KTLA) Multiple patients were airlifted to the hospital after an Orange County Fire Department truck crashed on Highway 241 on September 19, 2024. KTLA) Multiple patients were airlifted to the hospital after an Orange County Fire Department truck crashed on Highway 241 on September 19, 2024. (KTLA)
In a Zoom interview provided by OCFA, Brown said as much as he could from the night of the crash.
“I remember feeling the buggy start to lean, but I don’t remember anything after that,” Brown said. “I remember waking up outside the buggy afterwards and it was chaos.”
Brown later learned that he had suffered an incomplete spinal cord injury from the impact.
“For some reason I didn’t move a muscle,” Brown continued. “I don’t remember if it was because I couldn’t move or if I was in shock, but I do remember the paramedics coming and loading me into the ambulance.”
During the ambulance ride, Brown said one thing was on her mind more than anything else.
“I was scared. I was just praying that God would protect my pregnant wife. That was my biggest worry. While I was in the ambulance, I couldn’t think. That was all.”
Four firefighters were released from the hospital within 24 hours, and two more were discharged the following week, but OCFA said Brown and one other were at the hospital at a world-renowned hospital specializing in neurorehabilitation. He was taken to Craig Hospital, a center in Colorado.
“I was so worried about whether I would ever be able to walk again or move my arms again. At the time, I could move my right leg a little bit, but I couldn’t move my left leg or my left arm. “I could barely move my right leg and arm,” Brown elaborated.
Firefighters said doctors initially expected him to be released from the ICU on a ventilator and be bedridden for several months. “I was able to come off the ventilator within a few days after the surgery, which was really amazing.”
Upon moving to Craig Hospital, Brown said her biggest physical challenge was relearning how to move her limbs, something she “never forgot”.
“It’s very strange because the nature of this injury doesn’t allow him to do anything of his own volition, like he can on the fire line,” Brown explained. “No matter how hard you try, your legs won’t move. It just takes time.”
During that time, Brown also faced emotional challenges.
“I really wanted to get back to being a husband to my wife and be a father as soon as my daughter was born,” Brown said. “I just want to support my wife and someday hold my daughter and play with her and throw her in the air. That was the biggest motivation for me to get back to normal.”
And on Friday, Brown was able to return home, walk down the airport escalator and hug his wife.
Firefighter Andrew Brown returned home to his wife and crew after months of recovery from a spinal cord injury. November 2024. (OCFA) Firefighter Andrew Brown is back home with his wife and crew after months of recovery from a spinal cord injury. November 2024. (OCFA) Firefighter Andrew Brown is back home with his wife and crew after months of recovery from a spinal cord injury. November 2024. (OCFA) Firefighter Andrew Brown is back home with his family and crew after months of recovery from a spinal cord injury. November 2024. (OCFA)
“It took a huge team effort to push me this far and I think I’m blessed in that I still have use of my legs, because at the level of my injury it’s easy to do nothing. I might not have been able to move it.”
OCFA did not immediately release the status of the second firefighter, who was also transported to Craig Hospital, but provided a link to help raise funds for his recovery.
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