A Colorado paramedic who was deployed to work in New York City as part of FEMA's response to the COVID-19 pandemic has died.
Paramedic Paul Cary, 66, had volunteered for assignment as part of Ambulnz’s team of rescue workers in New York City. He was the first line of duty death of FEMA-deployed responders, the company said in a statement Thursday.
Before working as an Ambulnz paramedic, Cary served for more than 30 years as a firefighter/paramedic with the Aurora, CO, Fire Department. He is survived by two sons and four grandchildren.
"Paul made the ultimate sacrifice for his country and will forever be remembered as extremely dependable and completely devoted to his work," Ambulnz said in a statement.
Cary began showing symptoms of COVID-19 around April 19 or 20, and he was tested positive for the virus last week, KCNC-TV reports. He was admitted to Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx, and the medical company found out about his death Thursday.
"We were devastated to learn that our father and grandfather, Paul Cary, became the latest victim to die of COVID-19," the family said in a statement. "Our family grieves his loss, and knows that all his friends and family will miss him greatly. He risked his own health and safety to protect others and left this world a better place. We are at peace knowing that Paul did what he loved and what he believed in, right up until the very end."
