Hall Co firefighter hospitalized

A Hall County firefighter remains at the hospital after going into cardiac arrest during on-the-job training Tuesday, authorities said.

Fire Sgt. Jonathan Barton was participating in physical training and conditioning with a recruit class at the Hall County Fire Services Training Center when he went into cardiac arrest, the fire department said in a Facebook post.

He was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, where doctors performed a cardiac catheterization, also known as a heart cath, to examine the firefighter's heart. Doctors used an Impella pump to assist with his heart functions.

At multiple points, he went through episodes of ventricular tachycardia, which is when a heart beats abnormally fast, preventing proper blood and oxygen flow to the body, according to the Mayo Clinic.

His wife told the fire department that Barton attempted to speak overnight, and that he is recovering. A GoFundMe page created for the family said the cardiac arrest was prompted by a blocked main artery, and that his status is critical but stable.

“We appreciate your continued prayers for Jonathan and his family,” the fire department said in the post. “We will update his condition when more is known.”

The GoFundMe page, which is raising money for the family’s medical bills, said Barton and his wife have two young children.

As of Wednesday night, the page had raised $7,900.