By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Buffalo firefighters are mourning the loss of 44-year old Donald Herbert. He died Tuesday after being hospitalized with an infection and pneumonia.
Herbert drew international attention last May when he suddenly woke up from a coma after almost ten years.
Herbert suffered severe brain damage fighting a Buffalo fire in December of '95 when a roof collapsed.
His fellow firefighters still remember that night clearly.
"When the roof came down, Donny was against the wall and there was a beam on top of him. It took a tremendous effort for everyone to get him out," said Buffalo Fire Commissioner Michael Lombardo.
Lombardo said Herbert's death marks a very sad time for City fire fighters. Lombardo said Herbert was surrounded by his wife and family when he died.
Last year, doctors called Herbert's recovery remarkable. After emerging from a nine and a half year coma, he talked with his family for about 15-hours. Lombardo said he considered that an earth shattering moment.
"Not only did he recognize my voice, he recognized my wife's voice. That was amazing. He had come a tremendous distance and it seemed that was going to last, but it didn't last that long."
Retired fire lieutenant Patrick Coghlan worked with Herbert at Rescue One. Tuesday Coghlan was interviewed by NPR. He talked about the night of Herbert's tragic injury. Coghlan said he lost track of Herbert while battling the blaze.
"He got out from under my view. We had a crew of five men, and I know myself and another guy was on the second floor, but I couldn't tell you where the rest of theme were," said Coghlan.
But last May, when word spread that Herbert was speaking, Coghlan rushed to visit him.
"All of a sudden his mom says Donny, Patty is here. He said as clear as a bell, and I will never forget this, 'Coghlan.' That was after almost ten years, remembering my last name, that floored me," said Coghlan. "But, that was the last time I saw Donny."
The Buffalo firefighters union refer to Herbert as their "brother". Herbert will receive a full "line of duty" firefighters funeral.
It will be held Saturday morning at 10:30 AM at Our Lady of Victory Basilica in Lackawanna.