Eagle Rock Assistant Fire Chief Alan Wright suffered cardiac arrest after being struck by debris during a 2016 flood rescue in Alleghany County

BOTETOURT COUNTY, Va. — Botetourt County is mourning the loss of Assistant Fire Chief Alan Wright of the Eagle Rock Volunteer Fire Department.

Botetourt County Fire and EMS stated on Facebook that he was critically injured while serving his community during a swiftwater rescue in June 2016.

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Wright was attempting to help rescue a family during flooding in Alleghany County, the Fincastle Herald reported. As a member of the Eagle Rock Volunteer Fire Department’s Swift Water Rescue Team, Wright and fellow team members Chris Keyser and Travis Smith were navigating the flooded stream when a submerged object struck them and the rushing water pulled them under.

Wright went into cardiac arrest, was resuscitated, stabilized and transferred to a Roanoke hospital. He later continued rehabilitation at home.

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