Coronavirus pandemic: Former FDNY fire marshal John Knox, 84, dies after battling the disease for a week
A beloved former FDNY fire marshal succumbed to the deadly coronavirus, on Monday, March 16, sources revealed.
As many as 84-year-old John Knox passed away after battling the disease for around one week, the FDNY firefighters association confirmed. Knox was a Queens resident and had been admitted to the Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital in Oceanside, Long Island.
Knox had been admitted since February 26 when he had experienced several bouts of coughing and vomiting, his son Zachary shared with The Post. Knox had not traveled to any high-risk countries nor had he crossed paths with those who had, which is why doctors did not test him for COVID-19 until March 9.
The diagnosis came back on Friday, March 13, after Knox had been heavily sedated and was breathing via a ventilator for 10 days. Knox's family were hoping that he would be eligible for an experimental course of Remdesivir an unapproved drug used in experiments to fight Ebola.
However, the elderly man was not eligible for the treatment as he had acute kidney failure. Before being a part of the Bravest, Knox had spent around two years with the NYPD and had also served with the marines in Korea.
He had served with the FDNY from 1960 to 1998 and had spent around 34 of those years as a fire marshal. Knox is survived by his wife, three daughters, and six grandchildren. President of FDNY-Firefighters Association, Gerard Fitzgerald shared, "Our sympathies and prayers go out to the Knox family during this especially difficult time, following the tragic loss of their beloved husband, father, and grandfather."
"John was a proud Fire Marshal Representative in the Uniformed Firefighters Association and served this department and his fellow Fire Marshals for many years,” he continued. “We are thankful for the memories and are grateful for his service to this City and this Union," he added.
The time of Knox's death remains unclear and whether his death is the seventh statewide death or an eighth, remains to be updated.