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Content 2 Year old Hoke with family and JFRD crews

Quick Actions from JFRD Crews Save 2-Year-Old’s Life

February 10, 2026
What could have ended in tragedy became a story of hope, teamwork, and the critical importance of CPR training when Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department (JFRD) crews helped save the life of 2-year-old Hoke following a drowning incident on February 3rd.
At approximately 2:00 PM, B-shift crews from Stations 53,33, and 36 were dispatched to a residence off Pritchard Road for a reported pediatric drowning. Crews from Station 53 arrived first to find Hoke unresponsive. His mother and an off-duty officer from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office had already begun CPR, actions that would prove crucial in the moments before JFRD personnel took over. 

Firefighters worked quickly to provide advanced life support care and trauma-alerted the child to a local pediatric hospital. En route, he began crying, which was music to the crew's ears. Within hours of arrival, Hoke was alert, moving around, and showing no signs of neurological impairment. 

On February 9, just two shifts later for these firefighters, Hoke and his parents, Matt and Katie, visited the crews who saved their son’s life, bringing treats and heartfelt thanks. 

“It is incredibly rare that we get to see the patients we impact in the field”, said Rescue District Chief David Castleman. “To see Hoke healthy, smiling, and thriving, just days later, emphasizes why we do what we do.”

These reunions remind JFRD personnel of why they pursued careers in public safety, and Hoke’s recovery stands as a testament to the life-saving partnership between the community and JFRD. 

2 year old Hoke playing on the fire engine
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