Firefighter cadet dies after collapsing during training

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - The Houston Fire Department is mourning the loss of a cadet who died in the line of duty.

32-year-old Cadet Steven Whitfield II collapsed after completing an obstacle course at the Val Jahnke training facility earlier this morning. He was transported to Memorial Hermann Texas Trauma Institute where staff worked to revive him for 2 hours.

He was pronounced dead at 12:48 in the afternoon.

The obstacle which Cadet Whitfield completed was built back in 2009. Fire officials tell us that of the thousands of cadets that ran through that course only few received minor injuries.

The Houston professional fire fighters Association released this statement saying:

“This tragic passing of Cadet Whitfield reminds us of the inherent dangers of our profession. We are grateful to our firefighter brothers and sisters, the academy instructors and cadets, and the hospital staff for their valiant attempts to save Cadet Whitfield."