HOUSTON – Houston Fire Department cadets graduated Thursday with heavy hearts after a fellow cadet died during training.
“We're excited that we graduated, but we're sad because he's not with us,” said Ramiz Razzouq.
Steven Whitfield, 32, collapsed and died during an exercise on March 31. Whitfield's helmet sat in his seat.
“It was the right thing to do, to come, support and be proud of what these guys have accomplished, because Steven was so close to accomplishing what they all did,” said Whitfield's sister, Lauren Tucker.
Before joining the HFD academy, Whitfield was a teacher, basketball coach and a member of the Texas National Guard.
“He never really settled for anything other than the best, so he wanted to be the best,” said Tucker. “Not only was he proud to be a firefighter, but he was specifically proud to be a Houston firefighter."
As cadets walked across the stage, they remembered Whitfield.
“There's not a day that goes by that we don't talk about him, and that he's always in our prayers and in our hearts,” said Razzouq. "He's here in spirit. I'm a firm believer that he's upstairs with God and he's gonna be just fine.”
The medical examiner said Whitfield's death was natural caused by dehydration and hypothermia.