SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – Sarasota County Fire Lieutenant Clay Huber was discharged from Sarasota Memorial Hospital on Thursday, greeted not just by his family, but by dozens of first responders from across the Suncoast who lined the entrance to celebrate his miraculous recovery.
Just days earlier, Huber suffered a sudden cardiac emergency on Sunday while battling a house fire, passing away three times before being revived by his fellow crew members, according to his wife, Sarah.
Upon his release, Huber had one primary mission: to look into the eyes of the men and women who saved his life and say thank you.
“Being able to thank somebody that saved your life—who gets that opportunity, right?” Huber said. “What a better way to thank somebody than to face-to-face, shake their hand, the person that brought you back. So, it’s a great experience and unforgettable, and I’m really thankful to be able to do it.”
The terrifying ordeal began Sunday when Huber collapsed while actively fighting a structure fire. First responders on the scene immediately initiated life-saving measures to stabilize and transport him.
Even as he drifted in and out of consciousness in the back of the emergency vehicle, Huber recalls the comforting voices of his colleagues refusing to let him go.
“I remember right before going unconscious, and I remember a couple moments being in the back of the ambulance, where the guys were like face-to-face with me saying, ‘We got you, we got you,’ and then waking up here,” Huber said.
“I’d like to also acknowledge the hospital staff here has been incredible and just keeping me and nursing me back to health and getting me back to standing here talking to you.”
For the Sarasota County Fire Department, the incident was a reminder of the inherent dangers of the job and the rigorous training they undergo to protect their own.
“It’s such an outpouring of support from one of our firefighters who went down on a fire on Sunday,” said Interim Fire Chief William Sturgeon.
“Something we prepare for is being able to take care of a downed firefighter, but it really happened Sunday. And our crews performed admirably to save his life. And that’s the kind of medical services we provide here in Sarasota County. Not only to our citizens, but to our firefighters in case of emergencies.”
Sturgeon praised Huber’s reputation in the department, calling him an exceptional officer. “All of our firefighters are excellent firefighters, but Lieutenant Huber is always a cut above the rest. He’s an outstanding leader, and it was a very upsetting moment for us, but we came through it as a team, as a family, and had a good outcome.”
Chief Sturgeon noted that the support for Huber has reached far beyond the county line. “The fire service is a fraternity. We all call each other brothers and sisters for a reason. And we always stand behind that. That’s one of our core values. We’re here to support each other. And that family is not just in Sarasota County Fire Department, but in the region, in the state, and the country.”
With the critical emergency behind him, Huber is turning his focus toward his recovery. When asked what he was looking forward to most upon returning home, his answer was simple.
“I’m looking forward to taking a shower. I haven’t done that in a couple days,” Huber smiled. “And I’m looking forward to just spending some quality time with my family, out of the hospital situation.”
Though his recovery journey continues, Huber knows he has the backing of an entire brotherhood.
“I just… it’s all about the camaraderie, and it’s about the people that work in the department,” Huber said. “From top to bottom, we’re a team, and obviously when we all need to get called to action, I know and can count on each and every one of them.”
