New York Firefighter Dies Fighting High-Rise Blaze, Reports Reuters

A New York City firefighter, who was recently recognized for rescuing a seven-year-old boy, tragically lost his life while battling a blaze in a high-rise apartment building, according to fire department officials on Sunday.

Gordon Matthew Ambelas, 40, had served for 14 years with the New York City Fire Department. He was part of a team of over 100 firefighters that responded to the rapidly spreading fire in Brooklyn late Saturday evening.

Ambelas was on the 19th floor searching for residents who might be trapped when he was engulfed by flames and smoke, as reported by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio during a late-night press conference.

“We’ve lost a real hero tonight, and our hearts are heavy,” de Blasio stated. “Unfortunately tonight, one of New York’s bravest has paid the ultimate price, and we all mourn his loss.”

Four additional individuals sustained injuries in the fire, according to fire officials.

Ambelas, a married father of two, had received recognition in June for his role in saving the life of a seven-year-old boy in Brooklyn, whose head and arm had become caught in a rolling gate, pulling him 15 feet in the air.

The last New York City firefighter to die in the line of duty prior to this incident was in 2012, according to fire officials.