Remembering Stuey: Fallen Burton firefighter lived his dream
Stuart Hardy dreamed of becoming a firefighter.
When he finally got the chance, he was nervous.
During orientation at Burton Fire District before leaving for the S.C. Fire Academy, Hardy learned all the stations and the various functions of the department. He was the shaky, inquisitive rookie, his colleagues said.
"This was his dream, so he was nervous, wanted to do it right," said Burton Fire District spokesman Dan Byrne, who spent some time with Hardy during orientation at his paramedic station.
Hardy became more confident, graduating from the S.C. Fire Academy a year ago and taking on bigger calls. On Sept. 13, while responding to a car crash off of Laurel Bay Road, Hardy suffered a medical event that left him with extensive brain damage.
He died Thursday morning at Medical University of South Carolina surrounded by family and friends, according a Burton Fire District news release and Facebook posts.
A service for Hardy is expected next week, Byrne said. The details are yet to be determined.
Doctors are unsure what caused the medical emergency. A medical autopsy is being conducted at MUSC, Beaufort County coroner Ed Allen said.
An MRI earlier this week showed Hardy had significant brain injury, according to a post on a Facebook page updating Hardy's supporters.
Hardy was 31 with a wife, Nicole, and three daughters -- Madeline, Savannah and Alesandra.
The husband and wife were Colorado natives and high school sweethearts. Stuart Hardy's father served in the Marines and Nicole's father served in the Air Force, Byrne said.
Facebook photos show Hardy with his girls at ball games, in Denver Broncos gear at Buffalo Wild Wings, shooting an air gun in the yard and seated on the front bumper of a Burton fire truck.
Hardy completed the fire academy last year after serving almost 10 years in the Marine Corps as a diesel and hydraulic mechanic, much of that time in Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31 on Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. He served two tours in Iraq.
After briefly working for the S.C. Department of Transportation, Hardy joined the Burton Fire District.
As a firefighter, hewas enthusiastic and curious, his colleagues said.
During training at the Grays Hill station, where the fire district's paramedic engine is housed, Hardy had so many questions that Byrne asked if he had considered paramedic school.
Hardy overcame the rookie jitters to become an integral member of the department. A photo from the July fire that burned the Port Royal seafood market shows Hardy in the doorway of the adjacent warehouse, manning the nozzle of the hose while fighting to contain the flames.
Members of the Burton Fire District met Thursday and swapped "Stuey" stories. Most told of his willingness to do any job, how Hardy was often the first in his gear and on the truck.
The stories continued until veteran firefighter John Thompson stood and spoke -- asked how somebody who had been here such a short time had made such a lasting impression.
The room fell quiet.
Then the answer came.
"He kind of breathed life into some guys who had been doing this job for years," Byrne said.
WAYS TO DONATE
There are several ways to donate money to the family of Stuart Hardy, the Burton firefighter who died Thursday after a suffering a medical event this month:
- http://gofund.me/stuarthardyfund
- In-person donations at any Regions Bank to the Stuart Hardy Fund
- Via paypal.com to stuarthardyfund@burtonfd.org
- A car wash and bake sale is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Bridges Preparatory School, and Fat Patties has agreed to donate a portion of its proceeds after 5 p.m. on Oct. 6.
Follow reporter Stephen Fastenau at twitter.com/IPBG_Stephen.
This story was originally published September 24, 2015 at 8:44 AM with the headline "Remembering Stuey: Fallen Burton firefighter lived his dream ."