Jackson man was brought back from the brink of death by firefighters — so now, he feeds them every year

The man's house caught fire because of a deep fryer and the firefighters found him unresponsive inside his place.

PUBLISHED 12 HOURS AGO

(L) A firefighter in his uniform looking ahead. (R) A man bringing out food in a garden. Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Cavan Images | Witthaya Prasongsin

One good deed might form lifelong bonds between people. A Jackson man formed such a bond with firefighters who saved his life during a fire at his house. The man recounted that he was brought back to life by firefighters who went beyond their call of duty to help him. So the man decided to start an all-new annual tradition to thank his heroes. The man now makes a meal spread for them each year and wants to continue doing so as long as he lives, per 16 WAPT News Jackson.

A firefighter getting ready for work. Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Guy Cali

The man, Kenneth Webb, almost died when his house caught fire because of a deep fryer on July 14, 2023. "They came to my house and kicked my door open, brought my dead body out and revived me, brought me back to life," Webb recalled. The man was in a coma for around a week after the incident. When the firefighters got him out of the house, his chances of survival looked bleak. "When I came back, I had to come see them because they went beyond — they told me they went beyond the call of duty. They tried to resuscitate me for more than the amount of time you think you're supposed to do it. But I'm here and I appreciate them," Webb went on.

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However, Webb decided to show his appreciation beyond just words. So every year, on July 14, the man brings a spread of dishes to the station to thank and celebrate the firefighters who gave him a second chance at life. The team at Jackson Fire Department's Station 11 also looks forward to the meal each year. They expressed that it gives them a chance to see how Webb is doing after the harrowing incident. "I just appreciate that he is coming back and letting us know how he is doing," Deputy Fire Chief Eric Gibbs pointed out.

Man making food in a kitchen. Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Morsa Images

The Jackson mayor had also honored the fire department back in 2023 for saving Webb's life after they found him unresponsive at his house, per WJTV 12 News. Webb also went to the fire department a few weeks after his house fire to thank the firefighters personally for all they did for him that day. The crew performed life-saving measures on Webb until the paramedics arrived on the scene that day. "You can be both doing your jobs and be heroes at the same time. We want you to know that the city of Jackson, I am sure Mr. Webb, don't take your heroics for granted," the man, Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, expressed. They were given a certificate of recognition and a proclamation was issued for each of them on behalf of the city of Jackson.

First responders often go above and beyond their call of duty to save people during such scenarios. Another team of firefighters saved an unresponsive man's life after they found him sitting on a chair, per FireRescue1. The man was sitting on a chair and had no pulse or breathing when the firefighters arrived at the house four minutes after they were called. His body was still warm, so they laid him down on the floor and performed lifesaving measures on him for the next 20 minutes and eventually registered a strong pulse for him. They loaded the man on a stretcher and took him to a medical center after that, where he was in stable condition.