Veteran Fire Commissioner Dies Saving Hiker

Establishing,Shot:,Team,Of,Firefighters,In,Safety,Uniform,And,Helmets

Michael J. Ryan, a dedicated Air Force veteran, 25-year police veteran, and Phoenicia Fire District Commissioner, died a hero on Panther Mountain on December 13, 2025. He suffered sudden cardiac arrest while evacuating a 20-year-old injured hiker from the steep, rugged terrain of the Catskills. His final act of service underscores the profound risk and selfless commitment of volunteer first responders.

Story Highlights

Michael J. Ryan, Phoenicia Fire District Commissioner and firefighter, died on December 13, 2025, during a backcountry rescue on Panther Mountain.
Ryan, an Air Force veteran and 25-year police veteran, suffered cardiac arrest amid steep terrain while evacuating a 20-year-old injured hiker who survived.
Local volunteer firefighters led the initial response, highlighting the vital role of community-based emergency services in remote areas.
Officials praised Ryan as a “proven hero,” underscoring line-of-duty risks like cardiac events that claim many first responders.

Rescue Timeline on Panther Mountain

Ulster County 911 received an SOS at 5:44 p.m. on Saturday, December 13, 2025, from a 20-year-old New Jersey hiker with an unstable lower leg injury on Fox Hollow Trail in Shandaken, Ulster County. Phoenicia Volunteer Fire Department responders, including Commissioner Michael J. Ryan, entered the wooded trail around 5:30 p.m., packaged the hiker, and began carrying him down before New York State DEC Forest Rangers arrived. The steep, technical terrain in the Slide Mountain Wilderness demanded intense physical effort under cold, darkening conditions.

Hero NY fire commissioner suffers fatal heart attack while rescuing hiker stranded in Catskills Mountains: ‘Ultimate sacrifice’ https://t.co/O2ABwrcizL pic.twitter.com/n9oDJttUpt

— New York Post (@nypost) December 19, 2025

Ryan’s Cardiac Arrest and Response Efforts

Ryan suffered sudden cardiac arrest just before rangers reached the group during the evacuation. DEC Rangers Franceschina and Horn, along with firefighters, Shandaken Police, and paramedics, immediately started CPR and deployed an automated external defibrillator. Responders evacuated Ryan over challenging ground to meet additional paramedics, but he was pronounced dead at Margaretville Hospital around 8:30 p.m. The hiker received a splint, belay assistance down a steep section, and hospital transport, ultimately surviving the ordeal.

Phoenicia firefighters demonstrated critical initiative by acting first in this multi-agency operation, a model of local heroism that bolsters public safety without relying on bloated government overreach.

Heroic Background of Michael J. Ryan

Michael J. Ryan served in the U.S. Air Force before a distinguished law enforcement career. He worked with the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, then spent 25 years at the Kingston Police Department as Emergency Services Unit team leader. At his death, Ryan trained officers at the Town of Ulster Police Department while leading the Phoenicia Fire District as commissioner and active firefighter. His lifelong commitment to protecting communities reflects conservative values of duty, service, and individual responsibility over bureaucratic dependency.

Volunteer fire departments like Phoenicia’s fill essential gaps in remote areas, partnering with DEC Rangers who depend on their manpower and local knowledge for backcountry search and rescue operations.

Official Tributes and Community Impact

DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton called Ryan a “proven hero” who exemplified leadership in supporting rangers through volunteer efforts. Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger’s office described his passing as a “profound loss,” noting life-saving measures by responders proved unsuccessful despite their valor. Ulster Hose Fire Department hailed him as “a shining example of community service.” Funeral arrangements proceed at E.B. Gormley Funeral Home, with no reports of investigations into this line-of-duty medical event.

Cardiac arrests during strenuous rescues represent a leading cause of firefighter deaths nationwide, often from intense exertion in harsh environments. Ryan’s case highlights occupational risks in volunteer-led services strained by rising hiking demands in the Catskills, where multi-agency teams routinely handle such calls without controversy.

Watch the report: Ulster County firefighter dies while searching for injured hiker