COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — A veteran Coeur d’Alene firefighter who was shot during a deadly ambush last week managed to save the lives of his colleagues by warning them about the active shooter, even as he lay severely injured and unable to move.
Dave Tysdal was responding to a fire on Canfield Mountain when he walked into what authorities describe as an ambush that killed two firefighters and left him with life-changing injuries. Shot in the back during the attack, Tysdal couldn’t move his lower body but found a way to radio crucial information to other responders.
“He saved countless lives with his actions,” said Captain Nate Hyder of Coeur d’Alene Fire Station 3. “If he hadn’t been able to do that, more units would have kept coming up that mountain.”
Despite his severe injuries, Tysdal managed to operate his radio using his shoulder and chin to warn other firefighters about the ongoing threat.
“Dave was able to get on the radio and talk about the conditions up there, even though he was severely injured,” said Erik Loney, a firefighter with Coeur d’Alene Fire Station 3.
Tysdal has been hospitalized at Kootenai Health since the day of the shooting and has undergone three surgeries, including one to rebuild his clavicle. He currently cannot move his lower body and is waiting to be accepted into a hospital that specializes in spinal injuries.
Tysdal’s colleagues describe him as someone who always put others first, making his heroic actions during the ambush unsurprising to those who know him best.
“In this profession, none of us want to be called heroes, because we’re not. But he is,” said Captain Nate Hyder. “He saved a lot of us that day.”
“I was fortunate to get to spend a lot of time with him and our families did things together, but he’s the kind of guy who would drop whatever he’s doing if you needed help with a project,” said Andy Goodsell, a paramedic and firefighter who worked closely with Tysdal.
Now, Tysdal’s friends and colleagues are returning that dedication. Goodsell is working to finish remodeling work on Tysdal’s farmhouse, where the firefighter and his family also sold Christmas trees during the holidays. Goodsell says finishing this project is the least he can do for his friend.
“If there was someone who was going through a tragedy, he would stop and make sure their needs came first,” Goodsell said.
Tysdal’s family and friends have remained by his side throughout his hospitalization and recovery process. The fire department welcomes support for Tysdal and his family through the Red and Blue Foundation website.
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