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Tag: Engine 226 in Staten Island
Drowned Firefighter Mark Batista 'Always Put Family First'
Mark Batista's family was his whole world.
Batista, a firefighter for the FDNY, died while trying to save his daughter from drowning on Friday, June 9. Batista, 39, went into the waters off the Sylvania Avenue beach around 8:30 a.m. in an effort to save her, when she got caught in the rough surf.
The girl was saved by rescuers but Batista's body wasn't found until nearly 10 a.m., and he was pronounced dead at the hospital, despite life-saving efforts, police said.
A fundraiser, organized by Engine 226 in Staten Island where Batista served, has been set up to assist his family, which i…
