KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The son of an emergency medical technician who died of COVID-19 said he lost his best friend.
Bill Birmingham posted on Facebook about the passing of his father, Billy Birmingham Monday in Kansas City, Missouri.
“Today we lost my father, Billy Birmingham Sr. to COVID-19. He was a longtime Paramedic and his whole life was helping people whether on the job or being a pastor. You were my best friend and my example. I Love you,” the younger Birmingham wrote. He went on to say his father taught him the importance of family.
The younger Birmingham said his father grew up in the Kansas City area had seven children, more than one dozen grandchildren and a handful of great grandchildren.
Birmingham taught his children to work hard, help others, and put family first.
His son described Birmingham as selfless and said he “reinvented” himself as an EMT when he was in his 40s so he could help others.
The fire department said Birmingham had been a EMT in Kansas City for 22 years. First for the Metropolitan Ambulance Service, and then for the fire department once the two agencies merged in 2010.
The local Union released a statement saying Birmingham, “Did not lose his life, he gave his life serving the citizens of Kansas City, Missouri.”
The city and family have not shared details on how Birmingham contracted COVID-19.
The fire department implemented new rules for medical personnel last month to help protect them from the novel coronavirus.
