pATROLMAN salvatore spinola

emergency service unit

october 2, 1969

The urgent radio call, “request for oxygen – man in a sewer” came on the morning of October 2, 1969.
Arriving in minutes at Troy Avenue and Eastern Parkway, in the 77th Precinct,
Patrolmen Salvatore Spinola and David Hayes of Emergency Squad 8,
found a utility worker unconscious inside an underground sewer tunnel.
Patrolman Spinola immediately donned a safety mask and dropped down into the hole
to rescue the worker, but upon reaching him, the patrolman was also overcome by deadly methane fumes.
Backup officers and equipment converged and Patrolman Hayes followed his partner down into the sewer,
to hoist him out. Patrolman Spinola was rushed to Unity Hospital but the fearless rescuer’s life was lost.