Pakistani immigrant dies after rescue ladder fails during escape from Brooklyn fire
The tragic incident was caught on video, showing the moment the ladder gave way while a firefighter stood at its top.
Ashiq Hussain was an Uber driver living in Sunset Park. He was seen in shocking bystander footage attempting to climb out of a third-storey window at 3902 Ninth Avenue just after 7 am on Monday. As smoke poured from the window behind him, a firefighter waited at the top of a retractable ladder to help him escape.
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911)
But just as Hussain stepped onto the first rung, the top portion of the ladder unexpectedly slid back into itself.
The video shows Hussain spinning in the air before landing on a deli awning and then falling to the ground.
He was rushed to Maimonides Hospital Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, police confirmed, according to the New York Post.
'The ladder just retracted as soon as he put his foot on it,' said a witness who shared the video with local media.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Viral Video: मृत्यू कसाही येऊ शकतो! सीसीटीव्हीत कैद झाली काळीज पिळवटणारी घटना
Latest News
Read More
Undo
'It was horrifying.'
The firefighter positioned at the top of the ladder managed to hold on and was not thrown off.
Two other residents suffered from smoke inhalation, and a firefighter was hospitalised with a leg injury sustained while battling the flames, police sources were quoted as saying to the Post.
FDNY officials have launched a full investigation into the ladder malfunction and the cause of the fire. The ladder involved has been taken out of service.
'We are aware of an incident that took place at an all-hands fire in Brooklyn earlier this week,' an FDNY spokesperson said. 'As is standard practice, we began a proactive investigation of the facts and circumstances surrounding the tragic death of a civilian immediately, inclusive of our Fire Marshals, Fire Operations, and our Division of Safety.'
Hussain's grieving family is demanding answers, saying his death could have been prevented if the ladder had functioned properly.
'I blame the Fire Department in this,' said his cousin, 52-year-old Mazhar Iqbal, speaking to the Daily News. 'They did really wrong. They took the head of the family. They ruined the family's life.'
Hussain was originally from Pakistan and had been living and working in New York as a driver to support his family.
No firefighters were suspended or disciplined. The FDNY investigation remains ongoing.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
Three burnt alive as mini truck, dumper catch fire after crash
Kanpur: Three persons were burnt alive when a mini-truck collided with a dumper and caught fire in Bangarmau area of Unnao on Wednesday morning, police said. The deceased included both drivers and a cleaner while another helper managed to escape. It took two hours for the firefighters to extinguish the flames and retrieve the bodies. The mini-truck's driver Mahipal (27) and his nephew, Sonu, a cleaner (both from Sambhal), were transporting chemicals from Muzaffarnagar to Kanpur. When they reached the Murray Company turn on the Hardoi-Unnao road in Bangarmau a sand-laden dumper coming from the opposite direction collided head-on with their vehicle. Both vehicles were reportedly travelling at speeds of 80-90 km per hour. "The impact was so intense that both vehicles caught fire. Sonu, the mini truck's cleaner, saved himself by jumping out while Mahipal, dumper driver Pawan Yadav (29) of Kanpur Dehat and its cleaner Sumit (20) from Jalaun were charred to death," ASP city Prem Chandra said. He said hearing the explosion, locals rushed to the scene and saw Mahipal, Pawan and Sumit trapped in their vehicles. Sonu was found sitting on the road with an injured leg. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Attempts were made to rescue the trio, but in vain due to the raging fire. Police and fire brigade teams broke open the gate to retrieve the three bodies. The truck was filled with chemicals that caused the fire to escalate rapidly. Eyewitnesses reported that the explosion was so loud it could be heard half a kilometre away. The flames reached 10-15 ft high. The police have sent the bodies for postmortem and informed their families. The accident caused a 1km-long traffic jam on both sides of the road for about 2 hours. The ASP said the damaged vehicles have been removed from the road, and traffic has been restored to normal while the injured was undergoing treatment at a hospital. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Sakriya has criminal record, posed as animal lover online
New Delhi: Rajesh Bhai Khimji Bhai Sakriya appears to be a person with a complex personality, said police, based on the details that have surfaced since his attack on CM Rekha Gupta. Claimed to be an animal lover on social media, Sakriya was involved in at least seven criminal cases earlier. Just two weeks ago, he had celebrated his 41st birthday with his family and vowed to stay away from the world of crime, his relatives told police. "Born on Aug 4, 1984, Sakriya stays with his family in Gokul Park-2 on Kothariya Road in Rajkot. His father, Khimji Bhai Sakriya, was an auto driver and his mother, Bhanu Ben, a housewife," said an officer. The accused also works as an auto driver, but that seems to be a cover for his illicit activities as a bootlegger, officers said. At least seven criminal cases were already registered against him, they added. While scanning his dossier, police found that they included four bootlegging and three assault cases. Police have obtained the details of the bootlegging cases, in which Sakriya allegedly used his auto. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi | Gold Rates Today in Delhi | Silver Rates Today in Delhi In 2020, Sakriya was booked in two cases under sections 65AA (punishment for possession of a lesser quantity of intoxicants) and 116B (no analysis required for known brand of liquor) of Gujarat Prohibition Act. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it better to shower in the morning or at night? Here's what a microbiologist says CNA Read More Undo In 2022, he faced yet another case under the same act. In 2017, he was booked for voluntarily causing grievous hurt, intentional insult to provoke breach of peace and abetting an offence. Last year, he was again booked under similar IPC sections. "He is also known to have a habit of playing satta," said an officer. Sakriya, who completed Class VII from Setha School in Bhakti Nagar Circle in Rajkot, is married to Usha Rajesh Bhai, who is a housewife, and the couple has a 18-year-old son who works at a CNG pump to support the family. On his social media profiles, Sakriya, as Rajesh Patel, posted about animals of late. "Active on Instagram and Facebook, he presented himself as an animal lover, regularly following animal welfare pages, including those of activists," said an inspector. According to Rajkot Police and family members, Sakriya was a dog lover and often grew aggressive over issues related to cruelty against animals. His mother said her son was mentally unstable and short-tempered. He would even sometimes assault her in anger, she added. "Rajesh was a devotee of Lord Shiva. He left home for Ujjain on Sunday. His father spoke to him on Tuesday when Rajesh said he was in Delhi for dogs. He was upset after hearing about Supreme Court's ruling to relocate dogs from Delhi," Bhanu said. She added that Sakriya had approached influential people to open an animal hospital and would often ferry injured or sick stray dogs to hospitals in his auto. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
NDMC clears encroachments at Janpath mini market during eviction drive
New Delhi: New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) on Wednesday carried out an eviction drive to remove encroachments by tehbazari vendors in the mini market of Janpath, adjacent to Connaught Place, officials said. The market, popular among youngsters for its affordable clothes and artificial jewellery, has faced regular civic action over alleged encroachments. "Many vendors leave their goods on the street overnight, which is not allowed as per the rules. They were asked to remove these structures earlier. While many removed them, Wednesday's drive was a routine action to remove encroachments and keep the area clean," an official of NDMC said. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi | Gold Rates Today in Delhi | Silver Rates Today in Delhi A shopkeeper from the Janpath market said that tehbazari vendors were assigned places in the open area facing the market, but as per the court's direction, they can't leave their staff or belongings on roads permanently. "However, it was found that vendors were using the space assigned to them for storage and even erected shades to protect from sunlight permanently, which is not allowed," said the trader. According to a Delhi High Court ruling, street vendors are not allowed to occupy their vending locations round the clock. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like As Chinese student numbers grow, Singapore universities launch Mandarin-taught programmes CNA Read More Undo They must vacate the site and remove all belongings at the end of the permitted vending hours. This applies even if they possess a certificate of vending, which only grants the right to vend during specified hours. A senior police officer said the action began around 8 am. "We deployed about 30 personnel to maintain law and order. The drive was completed peacefully," the officer said. NDMC officials said similar anti-encroachment drives have been carried out in recent months across Lutyens' Delhi against unauthorised street vending and encroachments by shopkeepers. In May, a detailed demolition action was carried out in the Sarojini Nagar Market, wherein extended sheds or awnings and banners of shopkeepers were demolished. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
