My name is Martin Vilimek, and my wife I are humbly asking for help for our son, Firefighter/EMT Tyler Vilimek with St. Petersburg Fire Rescue in Florida.

What began as a routine call became the kind of moment every firefighter understands may come — but prays will never become their story. While responding to a working structure fire on October 23rd, 2025, Tyler was seriously injured in the line of duty. As the driver engineer, he was establishing the water supply for his crew when several hundred pounds of iron and steel unexpectedly blew loose from its base — the hydrant suddenly launched nearly six feet into the air under massive water pressure and struck Tyler in the head.

In that instant, at no fault of his own, everything changed.

Tyler sustained a traumatic brain injury, a cervical spine injury, and damage to his jaw. He spent six days in the hospital and has since been removed from duty indefinitely. His recovery will be long, complicated, and filled with unknowns — including when, or even if, he will be able to return to the career and the brotherhood that mean everything to him.

Tyler isn’t just a firefighter — he was born into it. He is part of a five-generation firefighting family whose legacy includes decades of service in Pinellas County, FL and Chicago, IL. Service is in his blood. He is the steady hand on chaotic calls, the calm voice when a neighbor is terrified, the teammate everyone trusts when seconds matter. He has dedicated his life to running toward danger alongside his brothers and sisters in service.

And through it all, his greatest hope — the thing that keeps him pushing through pain, fatigue, and fear — is the dream of being strong enough to get back to his fire family and serve his city again.

Right now, we don’t know when that day will come. We pray that it will. Tyler works every day like it will. But the timeline is uncertain.

Now, it’s our turn to show up for him.

Tyler and his wife, Courtney, are newly married and were building their life together — settling into their home, dreaming about their future, and planning for the family they want to start. This injury has not only taken Tyler away from the career he loves, but it has upended every part of their lives.

With Tyler out of work and on reduced pay, and Courtney — a nurse practitioner — who has had to step back from her career unpaid to care for him, they are facing sudden and overwhelming financial strain. The world keeps moving, even when your life stops. Bills still come, repairs still need to be made, groceries still need to be bought, and medical costs pile up faster than anyone imagines.

Since discharge, Tyler’s weeks are filled with three types of physical therapy five days a week, multiple specialty appointments, and constant work to rebuild mental stamina and physical strength — all while navigating the unpredictable symptoms of a traumatic brain injury. Because he is unable to drive or complete many daily tasks, Courtney takes him to every appointment and serves as his advocate. Several required specialists are more than an hour away from their home.

On top of that, they recently experienced another blow — a concrete block hit Courtney’s vehicle en route to a medical appointment, damaging the front end, the driver side window and both driver-side doors. The out of pocket cost of repairs to avoid increased insurance costs, combined with the hundreds of miles driven weekly for medical care, adds another heavy burden.

And for nearly a year, they have been fighting — unsuccessfully — to have serious construction and safety issues repaired in their new home, including flooding, drainage failures, and dangerously shoddy interior and exterior work. The accident has made it nearly impossible for them to keep pushing their builder while also managing Tyler’s recovery. They need help ensuring the home they worked so hard for becomes the safe place they prayed for.

We created this GoFundMe so Tyler and Courtney don’t have to face this alone — so they can focus on healing, on putting one foot in front of the other, and on holding onto hope for the future.

Funds will go directly toward:

• medical and rehabilitation costs not covered by worker’s comp

• lost income

• housing and essential living expenses

• vehicle repairs and transportation to required specialists

• basic necessities while Tyler fights to regain strength and independence

Every donation — no matter the size — makes a meaningful, tangible impact.

Every share helps widen the circle of support.

Every prayer reminds them they are not alone.

If you know Tyler and Courtney, you know they are the first to show up for others — neighbors, friends, strangers, and the community they love.

Now they need our help — their family, friends, fellow firefighters, the city Tyler has sworn to protect, and anybody moved by his story.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your kindness, your generosity, and your prayers.

Please help us carry Tyler and Courtney — just as they have carried others.

For direct contributions, contact, well wishes and support, please contact the Vilimek family through the St. Petersburg Association of Firefighters at:

IAFF 747

c/o Tyler Vilimek

P.O. Box 14492

ST. PETERSBURG, FL 33733-4492

Please address any donation checks directly to Tyler Vilimek.