Crime & Safety
Athens Firefighter Dies in Accident
Matt Hughes was off duty at the time, fire officials said.
ATHENS, GA — An Athens firefighters has died after an off-duty accident.
Matt Hughes was seriously injured in the accident on Monday, Athens-Clarke County Fire and Emergency Services posted on its Facebook page.
On Tuesday, an update said that Hughes had passed away.
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"We would like to send our prayers and condolences to Matt's family and friends," the department said in the post.
The Athens Banner-Herald reported that Hughes was helping a friend trim trees and was struck by a falling limb.
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He died at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, the paper said.
Hughes has been with the fire department since 2015. He was a 2007 graduate of Winder-Barrow High School.
Photo courtesy Athens-Clarke County Fire and Emergency Services
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