SHANDAKEN – Tragedy has struck the Phoenicia Fire District with the line-of-duty death of firefighter and Fire District Commissioner Michael Ryan, the Ulster County Department of Emergency Services announced.
Just before 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, the Phoenicia Fire District responded to a report of an injured hiker the Town of Shandaken.
Firefighters, including Ryan, entered the trail about a half mile into the woods searching for the hiker.
While in the woods, officials said Ryan suffered a medical emergency and went into cardiac arrest.
Phoenicia firefighters, state forest rangers, Shandaken Police and EMS initiated life-saving measures; however, the veteran firefighter died.
A statement from the Phoenicia district said Ryah served “with dedication and commitment, both as a firefighter and as a fire district commissioner. His passing is a profound loss to the department and the community.”
The Ulster County Department of Emergency Services and the Phoenicia Fire District extend their deepest condolences to the Ryan family during this difficult time.
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