South Jersey Paramedic Who Responded To 9/11, Battled Cancer, Dies

VOORHEES, NJ — Neal Hileman, a longtime paramedic in South Jersey who rushed to Ground Zero in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, died on Tuesday. He was 56.

Hileman, of Voorhees, moved in New Jersey in 1990 after growing up in Ohio, according to his obituary. He spent decades as a Virtua Health parademic and also served as a volunteer firefighter for the Voorhees Fire Department.

A cause of death was not shared, but he had developed cancer from toxic exposure in the aftermath of 9/11, his obituary says.

Hileman reached the site of the World Trade Center only a few hours after the planes crashed. He spent the next 10 days searching through the rubble with fellow first responders, according to a GoFundMe that was helping Hileman and his family as he battled cancer.

During his distinguished career as a first responder, he was also deployed to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

The Cinnaminson Fire Department called Hileman "a mentor to countless EMTs and firefighters who came through our doors—always willing to share knowledge, lend support, and lead by example."

"His impact on prehospital care in our region will be felt for years to come," the fire department continued.

View Hileman's obituary, posted by Costantino-Primo Funeral Home in Berlin, for information on services.