Man Dies After Fire Escape Ladder Collapses in Brooklyn

A 53-year-old man tragically lost his life when the fire escape ladder, used to rescue him from a burning apartment in New York, collapsed beneath him. The incident occurred on Monday morning (May 19, 2025) in a residential building in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Emergency services responded quickly after receiving a call about a fire in the apartment. Upon arrival, firefighters found residents trapped by flames with no way out except through the window. They set up their vehicles outside and deployed ladders for rescue operations. Videos circulating on social media show the man exiting a third-floor window as smoke billows behind him. A firefighter was waiting at the top of the extended ladder to assist him. However, as the 53-year-old stepped onto the ladder, it gave way, causing him to fall into the void. The man, identified as Ashiq Hussain, a Pakistani immigrant, was rushed to Maimonides Medical Center but later succumbed to his injuries, according to a police spokesperson.