Weissman was a seven-year veteran of the Alexandria Fire Department. (Alexandria Fire Department photo)
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ALEXANDRIA, Va. (WJLA) - A paramedic who was hospitalized after falling from Interstate 395 into Four Mile Run Creek while responding to a fire in Alexandria has died.
Officials say Joshua Weissman was responding to a car fire on the highway when he fell into the water. Authorities confirmed he died Thursday evening.
"We just had an Alexandria paramedic fall off he bridge into the river," came the call on the radio. "We've got an unconscious {victim} lying in the river."
That call for help came from Joshua Weissman's own buddies last night.
They were with the paramedic last night, responding to a car fire on an I-395 overpass.
Weissman, the first responder, was rushing to get across the highway. He jumped over the guardrail and fell through a gap between the roads and into Four Mile Run Creek, which is approximately 20 feet below the interstate..
He was knocked unconscious on the rocks. Witnesses say his own colleagues rescued him from the water and gave him CPR.
He was rushed to Washington Hospital Center in critical condition.
At 6:26 p.m., Virginia State Police received a call for a vehicle fire in the HOV lanes of I-395 near Exit 6/Shirlington Circle. Alexandria Fire and EMS responded to the scene. Their ambulance stopped in the northbound lanes of I-395 alongside the HOV lane to reach the burning vehicle.
The three left northbound lanes of I-395 were closed for hours late Wednesday as State Police continued their investigation into the incident.
Weissman, a seven-year veteran of the department, worked out of the Seminary Road fire station. He was married with no kids.
Fire officials say the last time an employee was seriously injured while on-duty was 15 years ago.
JEMS Editor Note: Paramedic Weissman was also known as a faculty member/instructor for Associates in Emergency Medical Care.
