A North Carolina firefighter, Jaywon Lyons, has tragically died during a snorkeling trip with his family in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The incident occurred earlier this month when Lyons, who had recently returned from assisting with relief efforts after Hurricane Helene, was on vacation with his family, according to reports from local media outlets. His girlfriend, Sonya Moore, shared with The Greenville Daily Reflector that she rushed over and couldn’t even stand while they performed CPR on him. Moore described the harrowing moment, stating that she had her parents take her son and remained with Lyons until he was stable for a while.
Authorities transported Lyons to a local hospital, and Moore attempted to arrange an ICU flight back to the United States. However, his condition took a turn for the worse at the hospital. The body of Jaywon Lyons was eventually repatriated to North Carolina on June 23, as shared with Fox News. The firefighter had previously deployed with the Little River Volunteer Fire Department during Hurricane Helene relief operations and had served at several other fire departments in the state over the course of his career, according to the Red Oak Community Rural Fire Department.
Firefighters from the Red Oak Community FD expressed their sorrow and described Jay Lyons as well-liked by colleagues and a man with a lasting impression on everyone. The department shared in a June 6 Facebook post that they were sorry to report the loss of their brother, noting that Lyons was an optimistic individual who loved his family. Edgecombe County also remembered Lyons as one of the county’s first firefighters in a June 7 Facebook post, stating that he served with courage, kindness, and a heart for others. His impact was felt far beyond the team, and his legacy will be cherished by those who knew him.
A GoFundMe page for the firefighter, titled