NEWPORT, N.C. -- Two Newport firefighters injured in late March battling a South Carolina house fire continue to recover but could be months away from walking again.
Rich Diamanti and Joseph Volk both suffered a broken leg when a brick wall collapsed on them at a house fire in Rock Hill. They were back at Station 1 on Wednesday morning. While they aren't able to work yet, their hearts are still with the station and fellow firefighters.
"This one was, kind of seemed to progress in slow motion,” said veteran firefighter Rich Diamanti. “We were doing everything we could, but just a huge bulk of fire in this garage. From what I can remember it was extending into house, was really moving fast."
Volk, who joined the department in 2009, shot video on his cell phone as the engine arrived. The video shows black smoke pouring from the roof. The two immediately began near the garage, battling flames at the structure and a nearby truck.
"The last thing I remember is looking back at the garage and seeing the roof collapse,” said Volk. “I woke up in the back of the ambulance....That's all I remember."
The pair didn't know it at the time, but a beam inside collapsed, pushing the wall out, bringing hundreds of pounds of bricks toppling down on the firefighters. It's a call that came in about 30 minutes before the end of their shift.
"I say wrong place wrong time,” said Diamanti. “Others say right place right time because it could have been worse. Looking at Joe and myself today, we're pretty lucky."
Volk suffered a compound fracture of his left leg, Diamanti suffered a triple open compound fracture to his right leg. They are injuries that may set them back, but won't damage their spirit.
"It could have been way worse,” added Volk. “We could have lost our legs, crushed, died. So I feel, thankful it's just a broken leg."
Both men could be out for at least six months as their bones heal and they gain enough strength to walk again.