May 5, 2025
Local EMT Joseph Wilson Brings His Story Full Circle with Lake County Fire Rescue
By Kyle Coppola
Local EMT Joseph Wilson Brings His Story Full Circle with Lake County Fire Rescue
TAVARES, Fla. — When Joseph Wilson was just 10 years old, a devastating car crash nearly claimed his life. It was the swift response and expert care of Lake County Fire Rescue (LCFR) that saved him. Now, 14 years later, Wilson has returned to the same department—not as a patient, but as an EMT.
In February 2024, Wilson officially joined LCFR as an Emergency Medical Technician, fulfilling a dream born from that life-altering moment in his childhood. His experience not only shaped his perspective but also ignited a calling to serve others in their most critical moments.
(Lake County Fire Rescue EMT, Joseph Wilson. Photo Credit – LCFR-Official.)
That moment shaped his future, inspiring him to step into the same role and provide life-saving care to others. Wilson’s story is one of purpose, and coming full circle. His journey from a young survivor to a life-saving first responder is very inspiring. “We are incredibly proud to have Joseph on our team,” LCFR leadership said in a statement.
Wilson now responds to emergencies throughout Lake County, bringing not only professional training but also a deeply personal understanding of the impact first responders can make.
Have you had a chance to meet EMT Joseph Wilson or any other LCFR team members with unique stories? Let us know in the comments below.
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
