911 Operator Dies After Chest-Pain Call

Angela Yoxall-Hurlburt, a 36-year-old New Havener and second-generation 911 call operator and dispatcher, died from an apparent heart attack Monday evening, becoming the second city emergency call center worker to pass away so far this year.

Yoxall-Hurlburt had worked as a 911 dispatcher for New Haven’s Public Safety Communications department since 2012, according to Jeffrey Patton, the deputy director of the department. Her mother, Petrina Yoxall, also worked for the city as a 911 operator before retiring.

Here’s what happened, according to Patton and city Public Safety Communications Director George Peet.

Yoxall-Hurlburt was at home Monday quarantining after a potential exposure to someone with Covid-19.

At 6:51 p.m., she called 911 about having chest pains and being unable to breathe normally. The 911 call operator who took her call noted that she was alert and able to talk.

Patton said the dispatch center sent out fire and ambulance to Yoxall-Hurlburt’s New Haven residence in response to her call.

“It is my understanding that the Fire Department arrived on scene, worked on scene for a period of time, and then she was transported to the hospital,” Patton said. He said that he believed that Yoxall-Hurlburt was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

Patton said the department has had an employee assistance program staffer come in to address the 911 dispatch staff today, and that someone from the program will come in Wednesday as well to talk with workers.

“The team is doing what we ask them to do everyday,” Patton said. ​“Deal with the worst moments of people’s lives. Unfortunately, this is an extremely bad moment on a personal level” for the staff who regularly takes 911 calls, because now they’ve lost another one of their own.

Yoxall-Hurlburt is the second city 911 dispatcher to die so far this year. In June, veteran dispatcher Chris Helland died after a car crash.

City firefighters took to Facebook Tuesday to remember Yoxall-Hurlburt and to mourn her sudden loss.

“We are once again deeply saddened by the sudden passing of our own Fire Dispatchers in PSAP, Angela Yoxall-Hurlburt,” the New Haven Firemen’s Benevolent Association posted on Facebook. ​“Angela was a deeply passionate team member who often went above & beyond to assist not just her fellow crew members in their time of need, but was also the first to step up and help the NHFD & @newhavenpolice in their times of need. She helped champion several charitable efforts, and was eager to return to work following maternity leave & a medical procedure. Angela was a familiar voice on the other side of the radio (“Ang you don’t have to identify yourself, we know it’s you 😜”), and a bright, happy face who would often stop in to the fire houses for a chat. She took pride in her profession, and was a major advocate for all public safety services. Angela will be deeply missed, a New Haven resident that leaves behind her husband and two young children. Our thoughts, prayers, and deepest condolences are with her family, colleagues, friends, and those who worked valiantly to assist her. 635, you are loved and will be missed.”

The Facebook account for New Haven Fire Dept Engine 6, Truck 4 & Emergency 3 ​“Dixwell” posted a similar message on Tuesday.

“The members of Dixwell Station offer our deepest condolences to the Hurlburt family and Angela’s colleagues at PSAP,” it read. ​“Angela was one of the biggest supporters of all things Police and Fire. Angela never missed a fundraiser or an opportunity to give back and support her brothers and sisters on the NHPD and NHFD. We ask everyone to keep her husband and young children in your prayers.”