ST. CHARLES COUNTY — A St. Charles County Ambulance District paramedic died in the line of duty Monday morning, becoming the second staff person at the ambulance district to die this year.
Michael Clarke, 27, was nearing the end of his 48-hour shift at St. Charles County Ambulance District’s station on McMenamy Road when he failed to show up to the ambulance bay to respond to a call shortly before 7 a.m. on Monday. His partner searched the station house and found Clarke unresponsive in one of the station’s bedrooms.
Paramedics at the station performed CPR and tried other lifesaving measures as Clarke was taken to Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Kyle Gaines, a spokesperson for the ambulance district, said no foul play is suspected and that an autopsy has been completed. The results of the autopsy will not be released for some time.
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Clarke, who had been working for the ambulance district for the past two years, was remembered fondly by his colleagues.
St. Charles County Ambulance District Chief Kelly Cope said Clarke was compassionate and that his “kindness put patients at ease and earned him respect among colleagues and community health partners.â€
In February, Clarke was honored by the ambulance district for his work in saving the life of a man who was suffering sudden cardiac arrest.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Taylor Bookout, a seven-year veteran of the district, died in September after a multiyear battle with cancer.