The Freedom Tower

The New York Daily News reports a former state correction officer who fell gravely ill after volunteering at Ground Zero has died at age 54, his family said.
Gregory Quibell of North Babylon, L.I., who was stricken with leukemia and pulmonary fibrosis after logging in hundreds of hours at Ground Zero, died Wednesday night, his family said.
“He stepped in and he did what he had to do,” said Quibell’s sister, Susan Zava. “He always told us he’d do it again without even thinking - in a heartbeat.”
“He truly died a hero,” she said. “He loved his country.”
Quibell worked at Ground Zero for 22 days after the terror attacks, shuttling firefighters to and from the World Trade Center while the smoldering debris spewed toxins into the air.
According to state Correction Department records, he logged 242 hours at the site between Sept. 12 and Nov. 22, 2001.
The 24-year veteran of the department died at Good Samaritan Hospital on Long Island, his family said.
No autopsy will be performed, but Quibell’s doctors confirmed he was sickened by toxic dust at Ground Zero, Zava said.