The family of Nathaniel Wilcox, a 22-year-old Fort Myers applicant who died after overheating during a training exercise, filed a lawsuit against the city. The suit, filed July 7, alleges negligence resulting in wrongful death and negligence per se, seeking more than $50,000. It contends Wilcox underwent a proprietary evaluation, not the CPAT, with more events and longer duration, performed outdoors in extreme heat while wearing PPE and a self-contained breathing apparatus.
The complaint notes no heat-illness protocols or sickle cell trait considerations, and criticizes medical clearance and proctor instructions. Wilcox died after the training on July 9, 2024, with a private autopsy finding heat-related illness.
For More Information: https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/local/2026/07/15/fort-myers-sued-after-firefighter-died-in-training/90915188007/
