ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A deputy died in the line of duty from giving a baby mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, the Orange County Sheriff's Office told WFTV Wednesday. After 11 years on the job, 40-year-old Deputy Sebastian Diana died last weekend in the line of duty.
However, in a job that can involve dealing with violent criminals, Diana did not lose his life the way most people might think. He was responding to a 911 call; Diana was trying to save a 3-month-old baby's life by performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
The child didn't make it and the sheriff's office said Diana contracted a bacterial infection. He was sick off and on for the last few years until this weekend. Fellow deputies say his heart stopped and an autopsy is being performed.
Cardiologist Dr. Adam Waldman isn't familiar with that specific case, but said bacterial infections can set up and harm the heart valves.
"Especially if we're talking left-side valves, the aortic and mitral valves, we can see these patients set up with heart failure," Waldman said.
Fellow deputies call Diana a caring person, a solid deputy, and a good family man. They said they are shocked something like this could happen. The man they nicknamed "Sea Bass" leaves behind a wife, four children and many friends.
Since Diana died in the line of duty, his wife will receive a portion of his pay and benefits for life and the state will cover costs of college for his four children.
Visitation is set for Friday, and the funeral is on Saturday at the First Baptist Church of Central Florida.