Beloved firefighter, 36, dies from a heart attack just weeks after being fired in huge budget cuts to fund controversial migrant shelters – as his family is left with nothing
The family of a New York City firefighter has been left distraught after he was fired from the department and subsequently died of a heart attack at the age of 36, leaving them without any income or death benefits.
Derek Floyd, 36, went into cardiac arrest and died on April 15, just four months after the city fired him as part of a budget crisis.
His resignation came as the city was desperate to find ways to pay for housing and services for the tens of thousands of migrants arriving in the Big Apple.
Floyd’s death has left his grieving widow, six-year-old son Ethan and two-year-old daughter Abigail facing the terrifying prospect that they may soon be unable to afford a roof over their heads.
A firefighter for four years, Floyd was one of about 10 fire department employees on “extended duty” — a status for officers injured on the job or on extended sick leave — and his resignation came just days before Christmas.
The family of a New York City firefighter has been left distraught after he was fired from the department and subsequently died of a heart attack at the age of 36. Derek Floyd is seen left, with his wife Christine, son Ethan, 6, and daughter, Abigail, 2
Derek Floyd, 36, served since 2019, but despite previous health issues, he was fired along with others on long-term service despite needing a job
Several members of the FDNY attended Floyd’s funeral earlier this month
The city aims to cut the FDNY budget by $74 million by the end of 2025 to make room for additional spending on migrants.
Extended duty may mean a firefighter has been injured on the job and assigned to office work, or has been ill for an extended period of time.
In Floyd’s case, he was working in the chaplain’s office after suffering a previous heart attack in 2019 while still at the Fire Academy.
Before joining New York’s Bravest, Floyd had completed three tours in the Middle East, serving in the Marines.
In a cruel twist of fate, the father of two young children was on his way to being medically cleared so he could return to law enforcement as a firefighter.
Before his discharge, he would also have been eligible for more than $600,000 in death benefits, but now his family is left with nothing.
Before joining New York’s Bravest, Floyd had completed three tours in the Middle East, serving in the Marines
Floyd is seen in his military uniform while serving in the Marines in a 2013 photo
“I wouldn’t wish it on anyone,” 34-year-old widow Cristine Floyd told the newspaper New York Post.
“I think it definitely took a toll when they let him go. He always tried to stay positive about it, and he wasn’t really angry.
“But you see a person, and the wheels are turning in their brain where they’re thinking all the time, so I definitely think it influenced us,” Christine explained.
“He was always so present for our kids and stuff. Being a firefighter was something he was passionate about. He was truly a family man, he was all about his children.
“If Derek had stayed, he would have had a life insurance policy with the FDNY. That would have helped financially, because things are really bad right now. I’m honestly in a lot of debt,” the grieving widow revealed.
She said it was difficult to watch him struggle to make a living while trying to be present with his family.
Floyd is seen wearing ceremonial clothing in a 2012 photo
Back in the US, Floyd helped boost recruitment of people considering a career in the military
“I really, really loved him, and so it was hard,” she said.
After Floyd’s discharge, he had found work at a nonprofit that helps veterans, but the pay was much lower than the FDNY, there were limited medical benefits, and he couldn’t spend as much time with his children.
“What bothers me most is that the FDNY is understaffed by hundreds of firefighters. Ends [Floyd] was absolutely unnecessary,” said Andrew Ansbro, president of the Uniformed Firefighter Association.
“He had an important job, and the FDNY actually needed him in that unit. He was fired so the department could prove they were making cuts. He deserved better,” Ansbro noted.
Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh says the FDNY is looking into how they can help.
“We are heartbroken by the passing of former probationary firefighter Derek Floyd and will explore all financial, legal and legislative options to assist his family and ensure they receive the support they need during this time,” said Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh.