Updated: 1:47 PM PST, March 11, 2021
Victor Melillo, who was an only child, lost his father nine months ago, wrote Alexis Jude Kordas wrote on Melillo’s GoFundMe page.
A 21-year-old firefighter recruit following in his late father s footsteps died tragically last week after he collapsed during a routine firefighting training exercise, reports said.
Victor Melillo had been participating in a training exercise for the Irvington Fire Academy that was being held in the parking lot of the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy when he suddenly collapsed, the county said in a statement.
The incident happened shortly after 9:30 a.m. on March 4. Officials said that several first responders that were already on the scene, including EMTs, quickly attended to Melillo. Paramedics transported him to the Morristown Medical Center where he remained in critical condition, the statement said.