Atlantic Beach fire chief dies after skiing accident during family trip

ATLANTIC BEACH, N.C. — Atlantic Beach officials said the town’s fire chief died Monday afternoon at University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, Virginia from injuries sustained in a recent snow skiing accident.

Adam Snyder, 47, served in the Atlantic Beach Fire Department for 20 years, including the last 15 years as chief.

The accident happened Saturday while on a trip with his family to Wintergreen Resort in Virginia.

Snyder was United States Marine Corps veteran where he served as a rescue swimmer. During his tenure as fire chief, the Atlantic Beach Fire Department achieved levels of certification and received awards that were nearly unprecedented for a small-town department.

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Those accomplishments earned Snyder’s department one of the highest fire department ratings in the country.

Funeral arrangements will be made by Munden Funeral Home in Morehead City.

On Monday night, Snyder’s family released the following statement:

“Today we said goodbye to a very special person in our lives. Adam was a wonderful and loving, husband, father, brother, son, friend, mentor and a dedicated, lifelong public servant. Adam served with distinction in the Marine Corps as a rescue swimmer, before working as a lifeguard eventually earning his paramedic license and joining the Atlantic Beach Fire Department. He absolutely loved being a firefighter paramedic, where he’s spent the last 20 years serving his community (15 of those as Chief).

“Adam left us physically today, but as he left he performed one final act of selfless service. Adam was an organ donor. Today he donated the ultimate gift, giving of himself so that others may live. There is no greater act of nobility and love that one can give than to serve and save another. He truly was a lifelong public servant.

"Adam and his legacy of service will live in our hearts forever. Our family truly appreciates all the prayers and kind messages you have shared with us. The Charlottesville Fire Department, the Virginia State Police, North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Morehead City Fire-EMS and the Atlantic Beach Fire Department along with the staff of UVA Medical Center have been amazing. They have stood with us since the moment we arrived. We will be forever indebted for the kindness, compassion, strength and love they've shown us.

“Later tomorrow (Tuesday) we will bring Adam home. Final arrangements are incomplete now, we ask that you give our family and our community time to grieve. We also respectfully request that all inquiries and contact go through our family liaison member or our assigned public information officer.”

Cox Media Group