Firefighter Suffers Cardiac Arrest Battling Manchester, NH House Fire

MANCHESTER, N.H. (CBS) – A firefighter suffered cardiac arrest while battling a house fire at a home in Manchester, New Hampshire on Monday. It happened just after 10:30 a.m. on South Beech Street.

The firefighter, who has been on the job for 23 years, was rushed to Elliot Hospital. The 52-year-old was listed in stable condition. His name has not been released.

"If we didn't see him for just a few minutes, the outcome would have been much different," said Fire Chief Daniel Goonan. "The fire was right there in the kitchen and yeah, that's where he went down."

No one was in the home at the time of the fire but that was not known to crews as they arrived on scene and entered the building.

"They pulled the fireman out through the window, that was scary, and then they had to resuscitate him," said witness Kathleen Costello.

"They brought him out and we watched them do CPR and it was unreal," another woman said.

Flames were knocked down a short time later.

"Pretty traumatic for the guys, of course, it hits home," said Goonan. "This guy was a very well-liked firefighter. He's been here an awfully long time."

The chief continued, "This just proves that being in the right place at the right time and having those skills is really life and death. It looks good for him. It looks like he's doing OK."