Two off-duty firefighters tragically lost their lives on Thursday at a farm near Syracuse, New York, after falling into a manure tanker.
Memory and Doody, who were working as drivers for the manure trucks at the farm, were involved in the incident, reported the Daily Mail.
Images show the two victims:
Emergency helicopters responded to the farm following a 911 call for help. “The Clinton Fire Department, Mercy Flight, and COVAC Ambulance all arrived at the scene to provide assistance to the two men. Memory and Doody were then transported to Wynn Hospital in Utica, where they later succumbed to their injuries,” according to the Mail report.
Memory, a third-generation firefighter, had served with the Tully Fire and EMS for 15 years, as noted in the News article. Chief Adam Daley of the Cuyler Fire Department described Doody as a volunteer member for the past decade.
The local community is deeply affected by the loss, as reported by CNY Central. “We know everybody,” Daley said of the surrounding towns, emphasizing the community’s support during such tragedies.
Jason Oliver, a farming expert from Cornell University, highlighted the tragic irony that these men, who were rescuers themselves, became victims. “In a confined space, manure gases can accumulate at high concentration and be dangerous or deadly,” Oliver explained. He also underscored the high-risk nature of farming, where individuals work diligently to produce healthy and nutritious food for others.
