HAVERHILL, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) – A man from Woburn died suddenly on Tuesday while training as a recruit with the Essex County Sheriff's Department.
According to Essex County Sheriff Kevin Coppinger, 29-year-old Anish Khalifa started at the Department’s Basic Training Academy at Northern Essex Community College in April as a member of BTA Class 20-01, after serving a year as a reserve officer with the Woburn Police Department.
Khalifa died Tuesday during physical fitness exercises at the Academy.
“Our hearts are heavy with the unexpected passing of this fine young man,” said Sheriff Coppinger. “Our training officers were with him at the time and immediately began to perform CPR and other life-saving measures, but tragically were unable to revive him. Our hearts and prayers are with his family during this very difficult time.”
The Sheriff's Department said each recruit "undergoes a rigorous medical and physical fitness evaluation" prior to the start of a Basic Training Academy.
Recruits and training officers were offered grief counseling on Wednesday after the announcement of Khalifa's sudden death.
“These recruits have a deep desire to serve their community by becoming correctional officers. I know they will be mourning the loss of their friend for a long time,” said Sheriff Coppinger. “I offer my condolences to the class, and to the training officers who have been working closely with this young man for several weeks. I thank them for their heroic efforts to save his life. The department will be feeling this young man’s loss for a very long time.”
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