A beloved city firefighter died of a massive heart attack after helping put out a suspected arson blaze over the weekend, authorities said yesterday.
James O'Shea, 41, a father of two young boys, was stricken at his home in Holbrook, L.I., on Saturday evening, just after ending his shift at Ladder Co. 127 in Queens, officials said. He died at Brookhaven Hospital.
O'Shea's company responded to the blaze, which began in a pile of cardboard boxes outside an apartment complex at 141-26 77th Ave. in Kew Gardens Hills at around 4:50 p.m., officials said.
O'Shea complained that he wasn't feeling well minutes after helping to put out the fire and helping to haul away debris from the site, they said.
He went back to the firehouse, where he waited until his shift ended at 6 p.m. He then went home, where he was stricken.
O'Shea, a 17-year veteran of the FDNY and the son of a retired firefighter, was the first of the Bravest to die in the line of duty since the terror attacks Sept. 11, 2001, FDNY officials said.
"A department that has lived for the past two years with much sadness and pain once again grieves at the loss of a fallen member," Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said.
O'Shea's "larger-than-life presence will be sadly missed."
O'Shea leaves behind his wife of nine years, Yetta, and two sons, ages 6 and 21/2.
Grieving neighbor Jeannie Cagan said O'Shea was the typical doting dad who "always walked his kids to school."
"He was a really nice guy," she said. "It's such a shock."
A man who said he volunteered with O'Shea at the Brentwood, L.I., Fire Department described the fallen hero as a patient teacher of young recruits.
"He taught all the junior men what he learned over the years," the man said. "He was very well-respected."
Wakes are slated for tomorrow and Thursday at Grant Funeral Home in Brentwood.
O'Shea will be buried Friday at Good Shepherd Roman Catholic Church in Holbrook.
