Tennessee Rescuer Dies after Call

DOVER, TENN. -- Rescue squad personnel throughout the region are expected here Thursday to bid farewell to a dedicated member who died earlier this week following a call.

Timothy Byrd, 46, was a second lieutenant in the Stewart County Rescue Squad.

He was found dead early Monday at his home, said Chief Dennis Holland.

The previous day Byrd was involved in what he loved -- volunteering with the rescue squad where he had been a member for nine years.

Byrd's last call started about 10 p.m. Saturday when the squad was called to a lake after a fisherman fell overboard. "Four of us went out to assess the situation. We got back about 3:30 a.m. So, we all got to bed about 4:30, and were up again at 6:30," the chief said.

They met other rescuers at their building, gathered their equipment and headed back out to the lake to look for the body.

They dragged the lake, and eventually recovered the body about 4:30. "We didn't get things wrapped up there for a few more hours."

Holland said Byrd, a machinist who worked the night shift, told him he'd had about two hours of sleep.

"We heard he went home and was in bed by 10 or so. His mother found him the next morning. He had fallen out of bed, and had the phone in his hand..."

Holland said this is the first line-of-duty death in the 36-year history of the rescue squad.

"He did a lot of good work. Tim was low key. He never got excited. He never wanted to be in the spotlight. That's just the way he was..."

The chief said Byrd's death has come as a shock to his fellow volunteers who are struggling to cope without him. "We're doing fairly well considering."

Funeral Services

Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at Anglin Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.