Paramedic Jonathan Noce of Festus died in his sleep today (May 25) while on duty at Joachim-Plattin Ambulance District in southern Jefferson County, JPAD Administrator Curt Stueve reports.
Noce, 31, had worked part-time for the ambulance district since 2010. He also worked full time for Osage County Ambulance District.
“We are very sad and all our thoughts are with his family,” Stueve said. “Jonathan has been with us for six years. He was very well-liked by everyone.”
Noce was working a 24-hour shift, stationed at the JPAD’s House 3 on Hwy. 61 south of Festus, when he died.
“He ran three calls earlier that day,” Stueve said. “Then he went to bed around 10 or 11. This morning, the crews went to wake him and he had passed away in his sleep.”
The Medical Examiner’s Office is conducting an investigation.
“We don’t have any cause yet,” Stueve said.
Under federal guidelines, certain medical-related deaths are presumed to be duty related when they occur within 24 hours of a duty-related stressor, like running an ambulance call, he said.
Noce is married and had two small children, Stueve said.
A funeral assistance team from St. Louis is coming down to assist Noce’s family and the ambulance district with plans, Stueve said. The team is coordinated by the International Association of Firefighters.
This is the first time a JPAD employee has suffered a line-of-duty death, Stueve said.
“I hope to God it never happens again,” he said. “This is a shock for everyone that this has happened.”
Stueve said he isn’t aware of any medical condition that Noce might have had that would have led to his death.
Noce worked an average of three or four shifts a month for JPAD. Paramedics routinely work full time for one agency and part time with others, he said.
Noce is a Crystal City High School graduate and completed the paramedic program at Jefferson College in Hillsboro.