LODD: Fire Chief L.W. Nicklas, 39, Shepherd TX- Heart Attack

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Nicklas, Lonnie Wayne 

Age: 39 

Cause of Death:   

Rank: Fire Chief 

Nature of Death: Heart Attack 

Status: Volunteer 

Emergency Duty: No 

Incident Date: 02/23/2005 

Duty Type: Other 

Incident Time: 23:45 

Activity Type: Other 

Death Date: 02/24/2005 

Fixed Prop. Use: Residential 

Fire Dept. Info: Shepherd Volunteer Fire Department

PO Box 880

Shepherd , Texas  77371

Chief: Assistant Fire Chief Roy Pippin   

Initial Summary:    Chief Nicklas conducted and participated in training activities over the period of several days and during that time had complained of a constant discomfort he described as a ?gas bubble? just above his stomach and under his heart/sternum. 

At approximately 2345hrs on 02/23/2005, Nicklas awoke and sat upright in bed telling his wife, a fellow firefighter/EMT, that the pain had become much worse spreading between his shoulder blades. He declined having an ambulance called but consented to be driven to the hospital. 

While preparing to depart the residence, Nicklas collapsed and quit breathing. His wife called 911 and initiated CPR. Other firefighters arrived with an AED and shocked him several times with no improvement. Paramedics arrived about 10 minutes later (from an adjacent town) and began advanced life support with no results. 

Further attempts to revive Nicklas at the hospital also met with negative results and he was pronounced dead early in the morning of 03/24/2005.   

Memorial Fund Info: Nicklas Memorial Fund, C/O 1st State Bank, PO Box 1375, Shepherd, TX 77371 

Source: U.S. Fire Administration

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Thoughts and prayers to Chief Nicklas' family and friends as well as the Sheperd VFD. RIP, Chief.