A disturbing video of a man falling to his death while emergency responders attempt to rescue him from a burning building is circulating on the internet. The incident occurred in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, on Monday, May 19.
The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) responded to a call about the blaze at 3902 9th Avenue around 7 a.m. The fire broke out on the second floor of the mixed-use apartment building. Firefighters managed to get the flames under control within an hour of battling the fire.
Video footage from the scene shows the victim, later identified as 53-year-old Ashiq Hussein, attempting to evacuate from the building’s third floor using a fire department ladder. The ladder retracted when Hussein stepped onto it, causing him to fall.
The news outlet reported that Hussein fell first onto the awning of a nearby bodega. His body then landed on the sidewalk, where he was quickly removed and taken to the Maimonides Medical Centre. He was pronounced dead after arriving at the hospital. Hussein reportedly suffered multiple injuries from the fall, including wounds to his head and torso. These injuries were identified as the cause of his death by the city’s medical examiner.
Hussein’s friends described him as a hard-working immigrant from Pakistan who drove a taxi in New York to support his family back home. One friend shared that Hussein, a father of three daughters and one son, was dedicated to his children’s education and had plans for them and his wife to eventually join him in New York after not seeing them for years.
“He just wanted them to be successful and contribute toward not just their own family, but also toward humanity in some way,” the friend said. “He was an awesome dad … It’s a loss that I don’t think anyone is going to get over any time soon.”
The FDNY has launched a proactive investigation into the incident, involving Fire Marshals, Fire Operations, and the Division of Safety. The ladder involved has been removed from service.
The NYPD confirmed that two other people had to receive medical treatment for smoke inhalation. Additionally, a firefighter’s leg was wounded during the incident. The fire’s cause remains under investigation.
