A Pittsfield firefighter died Friday after complications from a disease that he contracted while attempting to revive someone more than three decades ago, according to WRGB-TV.
Thomas "Todd" Lange administered mouth to mouth resuscitation to the patient in 1978 and later found out that he was infected with hepatitis.
"That was before we knew about blood born pathogens and infection control and the diseases that were out there," Fire Chief Robert Czerwinski told the news station. "At the time (mouth-to-mouth) was the accepted form and that is what they did."
The 60-year-old dedicated his life to fighting fires and spent 32 years with the department before retiring in 2006 as a fire inspector.
"He was just a downright, all-around nice guy you'd like to have as a next-door neighbor," Czerwinski said. "You could trust him going into a fire; he'd be right on your side and would go through hell to do what we had to do."
The USFA website noted the exposure to the disease was documented.
Before joining the fire department, he served in the military as a Marine for four years, including one in Vietnam during the height of the war.
He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Pamela and his sons Patrick and Todd.
Lange's funeral was planned for Monday at St. Mark's Church.
