A former New York City Fire Department (FDNY) firefighter died recently of a heart attack after being fired shortly before Christmas as part of the city’s efforts to cut costs to continue providing taxpayer funding for illegal immigrants. The former firefighter’s sudden death has left his wife and children “swimming in a lot of debt.”
According to The New York Post, Derek Floyd, age 36, experienced cardiac arrest and died on April 15, just four months after New York City fired him to reduce costs and provide taxpayer funding for the tens of thousands of illegal immigrants currently overwhelming the city’s shelter system.
FDNY sources told The New York Post that Floyd was one of roughly 10 fire department employees who had been listed on “long-term duty” due to extended sickness or injury and fired shortly before Christmas. Prior to being fired, the 36-year-old firefighter, who previously served three tours as a U.S. Marine in the Middle East, had been working in the fire department’s chaplain’s office due to a heart attack he experienced in 2019 while going through the Fire Academy.
Floyd leaves behind a 34-year-old widow, a 6-year-old boy, and a 2-year-old girl. Before being fired by the city, Floyd was close to receiving medical benefits and over $600,000 in death benefits that would have helped his family in the event of his death; however, since New York City fired the firefighter shortly before he would have received the benefits, his family will not receive the financial support.
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Floyd’s wife, Christine, told The New York Post that she would not wish the experience on anyone.
“I think it definitely took a toll once they let him go,” she said regarding her husband’s firing. “He always tried to, like, 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 just constantly thinking, so I definitely think it did affect us.”
“If Derek would have stayed on, he would have had a life insurance policy with the FDNY,” Floyd’s wife added. “That would have helped out financially because right now, it’s really bad. I’m honestly swimming in a lot of debt.”
A GoFundMe page has been launched to help Floyd’s family and has already raised over $85,000.
The New York Post reported that the city fired Floyd as part of a $74 million budget cut to the FDNY budget by the end of 2025 to allow the city to continue providing shelter and resources to illegal immigrants.
Uniformed Firefighter Association President Andrew Ansbro told The New York Post, “What disturbs me the most is that the FDNY is understaffed by hundreds of firefighters. Terminating [Floyd] was absolutely unnecessary.”
Collin Rugg, co-owner of Trending Politics, shared pictures of Floyd and his family earlier this week on social media.
