By Philip Messing
The New York Post
NEW YORK — A retired city firefighter who dramatically survived a 40-foot fall during the fatal “Black Sunday” blaze in The Bronx was found dead yesterday at his Long Island home, officials said.
Former FDNY Lt. Joseph DiBernardo, 40, was one of four firefighters who were badly injured after jumping 50 feet from an illegally partitioned Tremont building on Jan. 23, 2005.
Two of their fellow Bravest were killed in that fire, while a third died the same day in a separate blaze in Brooklyn.
DiBernardo had 10 metal plates inserted into his pelvis, legs and ankles. He was forced to retire because of his injuries.
“He went through an awful lot,” a fire official said.
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