CLEVELAND, Ohio — Even after his death, the good deeds of a Lorain County firefighter are coming to light.
Columbia Township firefighter Brett Wilson was off-duty when he was killed while assisting victims of a crash, but an act of kindness just days before that, helped a father and son.
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“Here’s a family that lost their son, not realizing that he saved my life,” says Jed Cavadas while fighting back tears.
Jed was using kerosene to burn a tree stump at his home in Columbia Station when he says something went wrong, “the next thing I know there was an explosion and I looked and I was, I was on fire essentially from head to toe.”
His 9-year-old son Troy was about ten yards back and was also on fire.
“I was kind of like shocked because I didn’t know what would happen," he says.
Troy remembered the instruction he was given just weeks before by firefighters who visited his school.
One of those firefighters was Wilson.
“I remember him yelling daddy, roll, roll, roll, roll,” says Jed.
Stop, Drop and Roll was just one of the lessons the Columbia Township firefighters taught during fire prevention week.
Troy was able to get the fire consuming his legs out and went to help his dad using a garden hose.
On Tuesday, the fire chief, captain and Wilson’s parents surprised Troy at MetroHealth with a helmet, t-shirt, certificate and picture of Wilson.
It was an emotional moment for all.
“Brett’s parents were crying, and they were making me and my dad cry,” says Troy.
Barb Wilson says the moment was hard, “It was like living a bad moment but knowing that good came out of it.”
Gary Wilson, who is an Olmsted Township Police patrolman, says he didn’t know about Brett’s school visits.
“It paid off, thank God it paid off for Troy and his family,” he says.
“Troy’s a hero through our son Brett and Brett continues to shine on others in this world.”
Troy is expected to be released from the hospital this week.It will take longer for Jed as he learns to walk again while continuing the healing process.