SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Seminole County firefighters are banding together to host a blood drive after one of their own suffered critical injuries in an off-duty motorcycle crash last week.
The department said firefighter Connor Fernandez, 25, was in a serious crash on Friday. According to a GoFundMe set up in his honor, he sustained a brain injury and multiple life-threatening internal injuries requiring several surgeries, including amputating his right leg.
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At last update, Fernandez remained in critical condition in the ICU. His GoFundMe has raised $41,800 of its $50,000 goal.
Firefighters said Fernandez received many units of blood during his first hours in the hospital. So in his honor, firefighters are partnering with OneBlood to host blood drives on Thursday at Red Bug Lake Park, located at 3600 Red Bug Lake Road, Casselberry, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the Seminole County Criminal Justice Center, located at 101 Eslinger Way, Sanford, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
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Appointments are recommended but walk-ins are also welcome. You can click here to make an appointment at Red Bug Lake Park and here for the Criminal Justice Center. All donors will receive a $20 eGift Card and T-shirt.
The department said Fernandez has worked as a firefighter in Seminole County since 2020. He serves as a “floating” firefighter in the county’s Battalion 1 area, which covers mostly Altamonte Springs/Apopka.
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You can see his GoFundMe page here.
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