Island Park, New York
LONG ISLAND FIREFIGHTER DIES AFTER SUFFERING MEDICAL EMERGENCY FOLLOWING TRAINING
Island Park (Nassau County, Long Island, NY) Firefighter Captain Michael Fischer went into cardiac arrest and died while at a department detail. Fischer, 38, had participated in a morning training event, then rode on an engine company to where Firefighters were holding a fundraiser. Arriving at the event, Fischer went into the bathroom to wash up, then returned to the dining area — and suffered an apparent heart attack. Island Park FD and Nassau County Police Ambulance Paramedics worked for about 25 minutes in an attempt to revive him but were unable to regain a pulse.
Making the loss of Fischer even more tragic was that the event was doubling as a fundraiser for the family of a neighboring Oceanside Fire Commissioner, Michael Graham, whose infant son, Cooper, was diagnosed with cancer in May. Seven-month-old Cooper Graham is a patient at Cohen Children’s Medical Center, where fire officials said he is undergoing treatments for a rare childhood cancer, neuroblastoma.
Fischer was sworn in as a member of the Island Park Fire Department on Feb. 25, 2013, and served as a lieutenant from April 2018 to 2019 and as a captain from April 2019 to 2020. He had spent Sunday morning training new department members, teaching fundamentals like forcible entry, moving hose lines and setting up nozzles. Our condolences to all those affected. Rest In Peace.
Credit: Island Park FD
