An 11-year veteran firefighter died tragically Saturday while she taught a class water rescue, police said.
Alicia Monahan, 41, served in Chesterfield County Fire & EMS and was training a group of firefighters in water-rescue techniques on North Carolina’s Nantahala River.
Witnesses said that Monahan was in full protective gear when he entered the water at around 3 p.m. and became unresponsive moments later.
Currents swept her away before rescuers retrieved her and performed CPR. One of them, Douglas Hardy, recalled the tragic moment.
“I didn’t know if it was a boy or girl at first. I just saw a helmet floating, and face down in the water and it was like I knew I only had like a matter of seconds to get to her.”
“Started doing the chest compressions and checking her out. I couldn’t see anything wrong, but she wasn’t breathing and I could see her pupils were dilated.”
Chesterfield Fire officials said that Monahan was a mother-of-two acting as a lieutenant at the Bon Air Fire Station and a candidate for promotion.
“The positive impact she made on her family and friends, our organization, our community, and everyone she encountered will live on forever. We miss you, Alicia!”
