Body of Chickasha firefighter expected to be flown back to US; delayed in Jamaica for weeks after his death

The body of a Chickasha firefighter, who died while on a family vacation in Jamaica, is expected to be flown back to Oklahoma Thursday.

CHICKASHA, Okla. (KFOR) – The body of a Chickasha firefighter, who died while on a family vacation in Jamaica, is expected to be flown back to Oklahoma Thursday.

Mike Wise died July 22, 2024 after he collapsed inside his hotel room four days into a family trip.

“That morning at 5:30 a.m. we had a loud bang on our door and it was my mother-in-law,” said Corey Williams. "I sprinted to his room and saw they were doing CPR on him. And of course, I used to be a medic, so I did CPR."

Williams, who is Wise’s brother-in-law, was on the trip. He said the family spent several minutes trying to revive the Air Force veteran and long-time fire fighter.

Williams has been working with other family members to contact Jamaican authorities and the U.S. Embassy to bring Wise’s body back to Oklahoma. But delays have stalled the process.

"We want the closure. Nobody wants to go through a grieving process twice," said Williams.

Jamaican law required an autopsy before the body could leave the country. That happened on July 31, nine days after Wise’s death. His body was expected to fly out Thursday, but complications canceled his return.

Then another delay on Monday when the airline’s machine to x-ray the body broke down.

"We don't know if he's at the airport or if he's back at the funeral home. We don't know," said Williams.

Due to cargo restrictions, Wise’s body must fly through Tulsa instead of Oklahoma City. Both U.S. Senator’s James Lankford and Markwayne Mullin have been working to move the process along, while family tries to plan a funeral without a body.

Wise’s second family, his band of brothers at the Chickasha Fire Department, also wanted the chance to say goodbye.

"There will be a void that will never be able to be filled," said Brent Steelman, firefighter at the Chickasha Fire Department. "He was the absolute best friend you could have."

Wise’s fellow firefighters will escort his body home once he finally arrives on Oklahoma soil. The family got word that the body was expected to arrive in Miami Tuesday evening. It would be held for 24 hours before it would be flown to Dallas. Then the body will be transferred to another plane and flown to Tulsa by Thursday.

The family is holding out hope that no more delays happen. They have already pushed back the funeral from Wednesday to Friday. It will be held at Bible Baptist Church in Chickasha at 10:30 a.m. that morning.