The Phoenicia community was sent reeling for the second time in a week after Michael Ryan, a firefighter and commissioner for the Phoenicia Fire District, died Saturday while attempting to rescue an injured hiker.
Ryan, 61, suffered a heart attack about a half-mile into the woods near Panther Mountain in Shandaken, where multiple agencies were searching for the hiker. Attempts to revive him at the scene were unsuccessful.
His death comes as fellow Phoenicia firefighter Capt. Kristofer Craig remains in a coma following a serious car accident last week near New Paltz. Craig’s family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover his recovery.
“This is a huge blow to our community,” said Barbara Mansfield, the incoming town supervisor. “Between Mike and Kris, Shandaken emergency workers are stricken on multiple fronts.”
No date has been set for Ryan’s funeral services.
“No loss is easy,” said Deputy Supervisor Robert Drake, “but losing a first responder hurts a hundred times over.”
Jim Rich is a senior reporter for The Overlook. You can reach him at jim@theoverlooknews.com.