Donald J. Herbert (May 7, 1961 – February 21, 2006) was an American firefighter from Buffalo, New York who awoke from a minimally conscious state after more than 9 years.

[4][5] On the morning of December 29, 1995 the roof of a building in which he was fighting a fire collapsed, pinning him down and starving his brain of oxygen for over six minutes.

[14] Although virtually blinded by the accident and wheelchair bound due to muscular atrophy, he was able to play catch with his sons.

[15] He had numerous infections over the next several months and eventually died on February 21, 2006, as a result of pneumonia, surrounded by his family.

[14] Herbert is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery, located at the intersection of South Park Avenue and Ridge Road in Lackawanna, New York.