Arizona grandfather, 76, dies after ‘firefighters DROPPED him down a flight of stairs while lifting him in a chair: Slowly died after becoming more paralyzed until his heart stopped
An Arizona grandfather died at the age of 76 after a tragic incident in which firefighters dropped him down a flight of stairs while trying to lift him in a mobile office chair.
Ronald Shuck died on January 23, just two weeks after the tragedy that left him increasingly paralyzed until his heart finally stopped.
According to Ronald’s son, Ryan Shuck, although his father was not in the best of health, he could have lived for many more years without last month’s incident.
Ronald, a former US Bank employee, struggled with diabetes and had weak legs. On January 5, he had difficulty standing, and his wife was not strong enough to help him up.
When firefighters from the Phoenix Fire Department responded to the call, they placed Ronald in a budget wheelchair with no arms and attempted to lift him down the short three flights of stairs from his porch.
Ronald Shuck died at the age of 76 after a tragic incident in which firefighters dropped him down a flight of stairs while trying to lift him in a mobile office chair
He died on January 23, just two weeks after the tragedy that left him increasingly paralyzed until his heart finally stopped.
When firefighters from the Phoenix Fire Department responded to the call, they placed Ronald in a budget wheelchair without armrests and attempted to lift him down the short three flights of stairs from his porch.
“It’s still not easy to lose him when you think he’s still going to be here,” Ryan said 12News as his eyes filled with tears.
“He was just one of those guys with the best sense of humor. He is super funny, his laugh was extremely infectious.’ Ryan added.
Upon arriving at Ronald’s mobile home at the Pioneer RV Resort south of Anthem on Jan. 5, firefighters conducted a brief check on Ronald.
They helped him onto a plastic office chair and planned to take Ronald to a nearby hospital.
But instead of securing him in a stretcher or stair chair, the care provider chose to lift Ronald down the stairs in the wheelchair without arms.
Ryan expressed his confusion, saying, “He’s not a small person, so I don’t understand why they would choose that.”
Ronald fell to the ground, his head hitting backwards against the concrete, as firefighters lifted him up as his wife watched.
Ronald complained of neck pain, but he passed a spinal motion test and was able to move his arms and legs, according to a fire report Ryan obtained from Ronald’s hospital records.
The grandfather was taken to a hospital, where he gradually became more paralyzed until his last breath on January 23.
‘And then he couldn’t move or talk or eat or drink. “Watching him take his last breath was probably the hardest moment of my life,” Ryan said.
He added: ‘It still feels like a nightmare. “I haven’t cried since he passed away because I just didn’t want to think it was real…but obviously it is.”
Upon arriving at Ronald’s mobile home at the Pioneer RV Resort south of Anthem on Jan. 5, firefighters conducted a brief check on Ronald.
The grandfather was taken to a hospital, where he gradually became more paralyzed until his last breath on January 23
Ronald and his second wife, Michele D’Armond, shared a wanderlust spirit, which led them to buy a 35-foot camper and spend years traveling the country
Born in Salem, Oregon, Ronald was the youngest of his siblings and found joy in fishing and playing baseball.
He devoted three decades of his life to working at US Bank in Portland until his retirement, after which he ventured into the real estate industry.
He married Susan Heller, and together they had four children: Jason, Lori Elizabeth, Keri and Ryan. Two of his children pursued careers in the real estate industry, following in their father’s footsteps.
Ronald and his second wife, Michele D’Armond, shared a wanderlust spirit, which led them to buy a 35-foot camper and spend years traveling the country.
They eventually settled in Sedona, Arizona, and moved to the Phoenix area for ten years, where they remained until Ron’s passing.
He is survived by his best friend and wife Michele, son Jason, daughter Keri, son Ryan, brother Gary and grandchildren Austin, Dillin, Sydney, Lucas and Luke.
Ryan said the family is considering legal action, and the next step could be consulting an attorney.
“Someone should have to face the consequences of what he or she did,” Ryan said.