NY firefighter dies with worker he tried to save after both lose consciousness in manhole

NY firefighter, manhole worker die; fumes cited

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. — A New York firefighter who climbed down into a manhole to try to rescue a worker apparently overcome by fumes has died along with the man he tried to save.

Firefighter John Kelly and Department of Public Works employee Anthony Ruggiero died Monday in Tarrytown, a village about 20 miles northwest of Manhattan. They were pulled from the manhole by rescuers and pronounced dead at a hospital.

Village Administrator Michael Blau says Ruggiero was responding to a report of a sewer backup when he entered the manhole Monday. Kelly was called in to help out.

Both men apparently were knocked unconscious by fumes in the sewer. Their deaths are under investigation.

Information from: The Journal News, www.thejournalnews.com