| Name | Thomas Gotkowski |
| Agency | Tinley Park Volunteer Fire Department |
| Rank | Captain |
| Type of Firefighter | Volunteer |
| Age Range | 51 to 55 |
| Sex | Male |
| Date of Birth | 0/0/0 |
| Date of Death | 10/1/2000 |
| Cause of Death | Stress/Overexertion |
| Nature of Death | Heart attack |
| Attribute of Death | [not applicable] |
| Type of Duty | Ventilation operations |
| Incident Name | N/A |
| Incident City | Tinley Park |
| Incident State | IL |
| Incident Date | 10/1/2000 16:30 |
| Incident Location | Residential |
| Incident Attribute | [Not applicable] |
On October 1, 2000, Captain Thomas G. Gotkowski of the Tinley Park Volunteer Fire Department suffered a fatal heart attack in the line of duty.
Gotkowski became ill while he and other firefighters helped the police department ventilate a condominium in which a dead body had remained undiscovered for two weeks. Gotkowski was treated by paramedics on the scene, and he was transported to Palos Community Hospital, where he died in the emergency room.
Funeral services for Gotkowski were held at St. Julie Billiart Catholic Church on October 4, and he was survived by his widow and three children.
Citations:
Patricia Trebe, “Firefighter dies after answering Tinley call,” Chicago Tribune, October 3, 2000.