St. Paul paramedic dies on duty of suspected heart attack

A firefighter-paramedic died in a St. Paul fire station Monday night.

Shane Clifton was a Navy veteran who had been with the St. Paul Fire Department for eight years. Fire Chief Tim Butler said Clifton had been working out while on duty at the station when he collapsed and died.

Mike Smith, president of the St. Paul Firefighters union, said Clifton was a "superb paramedic, very humble guy. Came to work, did his job, wanted to help out and strong as an ox. A typical, you know, firefighter."

Clifton was 38. Department officials said that, for more than an hour, paramedics working at the fire station on Snelling Avenue south of Interstate 94 with him and doctors at Regions Hospital tried to revive him. He wasn't able to survive what they suspect was a heart attack.

Clifton was the 63rd St. Paul firefighter to die in the line of duty. Mayor Chris Coleman ordered the lowering of all flags at city facilities to half-staff in honor of Clifton.

Coleman called the death a loss for the entire city.

"This is a very sad day for the St. Paul family, and for Shane's family too, and for his children," he said. "My heart and thoughts and prayers go out to his family. It is never easy when you lose someone that puts his life on the line on a daily basis and works so hard to save others.

Fire chief Tim Butler said Clifton is survived by two children and his parents. Funeral arrangements are pending.