New Hampshire community mourns firefighter who died in diving accident near Cape Ann
“We join the Tatro Family in grieving the loss of our Brother and friend who had been so deeply involved in the Swanzey community for his entire life.”
Benjamin Tatro just wanted to help people. For 20 years he was a member of the Swanzey Fire Department in New Hampshire. The senior lieutenant served as a rescue diver with the department’s Water Rescue Task Force and was also an advanced EMT. On Saturday, Tatro died in a scuba diving accident off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts, the fire department announced on Facebook Sunday. The firefighter was described by his colleagues as being “deeply involved in the Swanzey community for his entire life.”
https://www.facebook.com/27SFD/posts/1695902397164324
“He was very engaged in anything that he was doing, and dedicated,” Fire Chief Norman W. Skantze told The Keene Sentinel. “He was an outstanding EMS provider. In fact, in 2016 he was presented with the department’s EMS Outstanding Service Award.”
The 37-year-old firefighter was with other divers near the wreck of the Chester A. Poling when the fatal accident occurred around 11:42 a.m., the Essex County District Attorney’s office told The Salem News.
“He was tangled in his own line and having some difficulty, so his fellow diver assisted him to the surface,” spokeswoman Carrie Kimball Monahan told the newspaper. “He was alert and breathing when he came to the surface.”
Tatro was transported to the an area hospital where he died around 12:30 p.m., according to the News.
Tatro’s mother, Elizabeth Tatro, told the Sentinel that her son had always wanted to help people and began responding to fire calls when he was 16.
Her son made friends easily and was a “wonderful, gentle, loving son,” she told the newspaper.
A graduate of Monadnock Regional High School, Tatro worked as an emergency department technician at Cheshire Medical Center and was studying for a nursing degree at River Valley Community College, the Sentinel reports. He also found time to coach youth baseball.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Tatro’s family. The 37-year-old leaves behind a wife and two daughters.
“Son, husband, father, brother, uncle, friend, firefighter, EMT, nursing student, coach,” the page reads. “Ben loved being an active member of his community and he loved helping people.”
Memories of the role Tatro played in the community have poured out as news of his death spread.
“Ben was an amazing young man and old fashioned soul,” Kyle Rider wrote on Facebook. “Always meeting someone with a smile and a handshake. Can never remember a time where he was not smiling.”
“Ben was Spencer’s baseball coach two years ago,” wrote Martha Hongistro. “Ben was so well liked by the team and the parents. He will be truly missed.”
“Ben was one of my favorite coworkers from the ER and a person I found a kindred spirit in,” Mike Hayes wrote on GoFundMe. “Saying Ben was smart, funny, and had heart is an understatement. The world lost one of its best people this weekend.”
The Swanzey Fire Department said as of Sunday that funeral arrangements will be shared when they are available.
