Last Friday, FDNY Firefighter Dominic Ventolora suffered serious burns to his neck and face when his facepiece was knocked off during a house fire.
Today, he was met with cheers as he was wheeled out of Staten Island University Hospital.
Ventolora told CBS 2 News that he received amazing care at the hospital and the staff was incredible.
He added, "It's so great to see all my brothers and my sisters ... FDNY ... it has been overwhelming, the support from them."
The 8-year veteran responded to a residential fire in the Bulls Head section of Staten Island and served as lead position on the hose.
As he was coming up the stairs, he lost control of the hose and it knocked off his face mask and causing him to inhale superheated gases.
His neck and face were seriously burned.
He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition and intubated.
Dr. Michael Cooper, director of the Staten Island University Hospital Regional Burn Center, told WCBS 2, "Speed is definitely the key, recognizing the seriousness of this injury. When you have an inhalation injury, you're fighting for your life. You don't have oxygen, so getting him here was the key."
Ventolora is not out of the woods yet. He will continue to receive respiratory care.
He told reporters the first thing he wants to do when he gets home is sleep.
