Pa. Paramedic Dies in the Line of Duty

Nov. 25--For more than three decades, Ken Prunty served as an emergency responder.

The longtime paramedic was doing what he had dedicated his life to when he suffered a fatal heart attack Saturday.

Today, the staff of Tri-Community Ambulance is mourning the loss of "a family member."

Working the midnight to 8 a.m. shift, Prunty had returned to the ambulance base in Monongahela from a call shortly before 2 a.m. Himself in distress, Prunty called out to his partner, Paul Pro, who was in the next room. Pro ran into the room to find Prunty down, clutching his chest. Pro immediately called for help.

"We got help from our service, surrounding services, and the Monongahela fire department," said Ramona Bright, director of Tri-Community Ambulance.

"Kenny was transported to Mon Valley Hospital. They did a marvelous job working on him.

"Everybody gave Kenny the best shot they could, but he did not respond."

An EMS memorial service will be held 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Marshall Marra Funeral Home, 216 Chess St., Monongahela.

Following a funeral service 11 a.m. Wednesday at the First Presbyterian Church of Monongahela, Sixth and West Main streets, a funeral procession will follow to Monongahela Cemetery.

Emergency services wishing to send vehicles and representatives are being asked to line up in the 200 block of Railroad Street by 10 a.m.

Bright said the ambulance service has been inundated with calls from emergency responders from surrounding communities.

"The EMS world has been phenomenal with the calls of condolences," Bright said.

Prunty, 50, joined Tri-Community Ambulance June 9, 1983. And although he also worked with other services, he remained with the Monongahela-based ambulance group for the past 31 years.

He started out as a first responder, then an EMT and ultimately a paramedic. He was also working full-time as an advanced life support technician/paramedic at Allegheny General Hospital "It's very difficult on my people because we're here to serve our community and try to do the best for the health of the people of the community," Bright said.

"Everybody involved in EMS is one big family. You are EMS family," she said.

"When we lose one of our own and we do everything we are trained to do, it's heartbreaking."

Fire department William "Rusty" Polonoli is organizing the funeral procession. Emergency responders planning to attend may call Polonoli at 724-809-0691.

Polonoli said a huge turnout is expected for the procession, which could stretch through the city's downtown.

"When you lose someone in the line of duty...they give their all," Polonoli said.

"It's very hard, very difficult for all of us."

Prunty leaves two sons, Brian, 23, a part-time police officer in Mt. Oliver, and Patrick, 21, a landscaper.

The boys' mother, Denise Horrell Prunty, also is a paramedic with Tri-Community Ambulance for nearly 30 years.

"We have lost an educator, mentor and a very good friend," Bright said. "He was more than a co-worker, he was a big part of our family."

Chris Buckley is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-684-2642 or cbuckley@tribweb.com.

Copyright 2014 - The Valley Independent, Monessen, Pa.