A New Jersey firefighter recruit died days after collapsing during a training exercise last week.
Irvington Fire Department recruit Victor Melillo, 21, had been participating in a drill on Thursday in the parking lot of the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy in Parsippany Township, according to a statement from the county. He collapsed as he was running through the training, and medics performed life-saving measures as he was taken to the hospital.
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Melillo was in critical condition at the hospital, and he eventually passed away Tuesday, according to the Voice. No details were given about what caused Melillo to collapse or the nature of the training exercise.
Melillo's death comes a week after a firefighter was seriously injured during an 11-week recruit training at the New York State Fire Academy in Montour Falls. Watertown firefighter Peyton Morse, 23, was participating in a drill involving breathing gear when he became unresponsive.
LODD: March 9, 2021 Irving Fire Department, NJ Fire Recruit Victor Melillo Recruit Melillo collapsed on March 4th...
Posted by Bob Welch on Tuesday, March 9, 2021
Morse, who also is an assistant chief with the LaFargeville Volunteer Fire Department, is in critical but stable condition in the intensive care unit at Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, PA. The incident led to several departments from not having recruits return to participate in the program, and some instructors were removed from the academy's training schedule.
