September 15, 2005 -- Escolastico Arzu got an early birthday present from God, his daughter said yesterday.
Her dad is the construction worker who survived a desperate leap from the Tappan Zee Bridge on Tuesday after he was set ablaze in a fiery traffic accident that claimed the life of a friend.
"He's doing well, but he's still in a lot of pain," said Kenia, 19, the oldest of his six daughters.
She said her dad was upset he couldn't save his friend and co-worker, Angel Norales, who was killed when his stalled car burst into flames after being rear-ended on the bridge by a tractor-trailer.
"He said he tried to help him, but he couldn't