A retired firefighter who was one of thousands of emergency workers who responded to the September 11 terror attacks, has died of a 9/11 related cancer aged 58.
Kevin Nolan responded to the World Trade Center attacks on September 11 2001, which resulted in the deaths of almost 3,000 people, including over 400 emergency workers.
But in the aftermath of this tragedy over 2,000 deaths have been attributed to 9/11 illnesses, according to an article by lohud, part of USA Today.
The father-of-three was a member of Engine Company 79 when the World Trade Center was hit in the 9/11 attacks, according to Unilad.
A tribute to Kevin, from Rye, New York, was issued by the Uniformed Firefighters Association (UFA) on their official Twitter account.
It is with Regret we announce the WTC Related Death of Retired Firefighter Kevin J. Nolan Engine Company 79. Funeral arrangements are posted below.#343andcounting pic.twitter.com/YSLrEQ3JQ9
— FDNY UFA (@UFANYC) July 17, 2019
The tweet included the hashtag ‘#343andcounting’, in reference to the 343 firefighters who lost their lives in the attacks.
“Kevin is the 199th member of the FDNY to die of World Trade Center related illness,” Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said according to New York Daily News.
“So many years later, we continue to lose those who displayed such incredible bravery on that terrible day, and in the weeks that followed.”
It is with Regret we announce the WTC Related Death of Retired Firefighter Kevin J. Nolan Engine Company 79. Funeral arrangements are posted below.#343andcounting pic.twitter.com/YSLrEQ3JQ9
— FDNY UFA (@UFANYC) July 17, 2019
According to the lohud article, nearly 10,000 first responders and others who were in the World Trade Center area when the attacks happened have been diagnosed with cancer.
The toxic dust that thousands were exposed to in the aftermath have caused a number of different cancers.
Help is available
Some don’t even know they are at risk or that help is available, according to Dr. Gaetane Michaud, a lung health specialist at New York University.
“I feel heartbroken to know that if at the lowest number, we’re saying there are about 400,000 people that should be benefiting from the World Trade resources, and about 80,000 are actually benefiting from them,” Dr Michaud said in a statement, published by NBC News.
“It’s not just lung cancers. It’s lung cancers, breast cancers, esophageal cancers and thyroid cancers, to name a few. These people should be screened and be taken care of.”
Sunflowers left on the South Pool of the #911Memorial as tribute. pic.twitter.com/FPEMvWMXca
— 9/11 Memorial & Museum (@Sept11Memorial) June 3, 2018
Rest in peace, Kevin Nolan. We’re sending all our prayers to his family.
Please share to pay tribute to Kevin’s bravery and to all the first responders who risked their lives on that tragic day.
