Firefighter Who Evacuated Hundreds On 9/11 Dies Of Cancer

MANHATTAN, NY — A firefighter who rescued hundreds of people during the 9/11 terrorist attacks died on Friday from cancer believed to be linked to toxins from the attack, fire officials said.

Thomas Phelan, 45, died Friday. Phelan was a working as a ferry captain in September 2001 when the Twin Towers were attacked, and he immediately sprung to action helping to evacuate the Financial District and, later, ferrying emergency workers and critical supplies to Ground Zero, according to the Firefighters Association of Greater New York.

Two years later, in 2003, Phelan joined the FDNY.

"It is with great sorrow that we announce the death of Marine Pilot Thomas P. Phelan of M-9," the Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York said in a Facebook post. "His work during the evacuation of Manhattan on 9/11 will not be forgotten. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."

FDNY firefighter Rob Serra remembered battling a blaze with Phelan in Chinatown.

"I didn’t know Tommy very well but at a 5 alarm fire in Chinatown we found ourselves together in a precarious situation," Serra wrote in a Facebook post. "I’ll just say that I lost the door as conditions worsened. Finally I heard Tommy making noise and found my way out to the hallway. His vibra alert was going off and he was just about out of air but he waited for me. I’ll never forget the hug we shared in the street that night."

Dozens of police officers, firefighters and other first responders who participated in rescue operations at Ground Zero have been diagnosed with cancer or respiratory illness in the wake of the 2001 attacks. Experts have estimated that at least 1,000 people have died from illnesses stemming from their exposure to the toxic debris and air from the 9/11 attacks.

Phelan's funeral is scheduled for Tuesday in Brooklyn.

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