A firefighter with Belgian nationality has been killed in New York. The Flemish Johnny Beernaert was visiting colleagues. A fire brigade boat collided with another vessel, and the man died.
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The accident happened on Friday evening around 10 p.m. local time on New York’s East River. What exactly happened is not yet clear. It has been established that a boat belonging to the New York Fire Department collided with a charter ship carrying tourists. Johnny Beernaert from Diksmuide, who was visiting his American firefighters, suffered a life-threatening serious injury. He later died in hospital. Another firefighter and three civilians were also injured in the boat accident, including Johnny’s wife. They were all taken to hospital, but they were not critically injured.
The devastation after the death of the 53-year-old firefighter is great. Johnny’s colleagues at the Westhoek fire brigade, post Diksmuide, have already shared some photos on social media. Full of disbelief and with great sadness we inform you of the death of Sergeant Johnny Beernaert. We have lost a valued and wonderful, ever-sympathetic NCO and Ambulance to our post.” “We’re going to miss you, mate.”
Stages in Amerika
The relevant battalion of the New York Fire Department also shared a message about the loss of their Belgian colleague. “Unbelievably tragic accident. Rest in peace, brother,” it sounds on Facebook.
The firefighter had connections with the United States for some time. He did professional internships in Oakland and Prince Georges County a few years ago, meeting many American colleagues with whom he developed friendships. When he left for the States earlier this month with his wife, a few visits to the local fire department could not be missed.
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