ARDMORE, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Family, friends and colleagues turned out at a memorial service Saturday for a fallen hero of the Penn Wynne/Overbrook Hills Fire Company in Montgomery County.
Hundreds turned out to honor Sean DeMuynck at Lower Merion High School. A Canadian citizen, he was in the United States with his wife on a work visa.
Lower Merion Fire Chief Charles McGarvey told the crowd that shortly after 10:30 p.m. on July 4, crews responded to a fire at a Wynnewood home. A short time later, something went terribly wrong.
"At approximately 11:02, the worst radio transmission a fire chief can hear came across our radios. Firefighter DeMuynck had transmitted a mayday," McGarvey said, through tears.
DeMuynck was pulled out of the home and died shortly after.
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The 35-year-old was remembered as having a great sense of humor, love for his family, friends, the fire department, and hockey.
His wife Melissa spoke to those qualities.
"We'll miss your smile, your laugh, the way you tease me about everything and how complete you made me feel. And we'll miss everything about you," she said.
DeMuynck's father Mark expressed gratitude for the support shown to the family.
"The way that we've been taken under the wing of Station 21 at Penn Wynne has helped to lessen the deep sorrow that we feel with the loss of our son, brother, uncle, friend, coach, teammate and firefighter. I could go on forever, because he touched so many lives," he said.
"I miss you so much, son. I always will. But I'm so proud of you."
After the service, a procession made its way to the fire truck Sean once rode in. DeMuynck and his wife had originally been scheduled to return to Canada on July 5, just one day after his death.