A 60-year-old New York firefighter/safety officer has died in his sleep of an apparent cardiac issue after responding to a technical rescue hours before.
According to the United States Fire Administration (USFA), Robert A. Fitch, a member of the East Herkimer Volunteer Fire Department, had responded to a rescue call involving a person who became stuck on some cliffs after attempting to rescue a pet. After the call, which was initially reported at 4:11 p.m. on Nov. 27, Fitch returned home and overnight on Nov. 28, succumbed in his sleep to a cardiac-related injury.