Paramedic honored after death while volunteering in NYC
A retired Colorado paramedic who died from coronavirus after volunteering to help combat the pandemic in New York City was being honored Sunday as his body was due to be returned to Denver.
Paul Cary, 66, who worked 32 years as a firefighter paramedic in the Denver suburbs, died April 30, a month after he began working in New York.
Before volunteering, Cary had been with a private ambulance company from which 75 employees had volunteered to work in New York, the Denver Post reported.
A large procession of fire, EMS and other emergency vehicles were scheduled to drive from the airport after Cary's body was returned Sunday night.
Gov. Jared Polis said Cary had “heroically” served his community and country and traveled thousands of miles to help others.
“He risked his own health and safety, and stepped up to do what he could,” Polis said in a statement. “I can never express just how grateful I am for people like Paul, and all our emergency responders who are on the front lines of this virus.”