A young Bronx EMT, who went straight into the misery of the coronavirus pandemic from the FDNY academy’s camaraderie, killed himself this week after fewer than three months at the job.
The police sources told that on Friday, John Mondello, 23, used the gun registered with his father, a former NYPD cop, to take his own life in Queens.
Passers-by saw his body at 6:48 p.m. On the cliffs near the river wall at 25-40 Shore Boulevard in Astoria.
As per the sources, he was lying on the floor up with the pistol still in his hand, witnesses said, a bullet wound under his nose. The pistol was licensed to the former policeman, elder John Mondello.
Mondello graduated in early February from the Fire Department’s EMS Academy, and began working for the Tactical Response Squad next to EMS Station 18 in Claremont which is one of the busiest 911 call volumes in town.
His death comes after Mondello had reported that he was struggling to deal with patients dying from the coronavirus.
The young EMT has been on the Tactical response Team working continuously to areas of the town’s with highest number of ambulance call.
Mondello was stressed by the high toll of coronavirus deaths, one of his friend revealed.
“He told me that he had felt a lot of fear experiencing a lot of deaths, that he would say it was a hard feeling anytime he did not save a life,” Al Javier said.
Another friend of Mondello said spoke about the “chaos” and how they noticed “people dying in front of them. “We don’t get the same union incentives as many working citizens in the region. Working long hours is very frustrating, and not being paid as well, “He added.
“This is evidence of what we are all experiencing,” he said.
Mental health counseling is open to all members of the FDNY program, which has been encouraged throughout the pandemic.
Commissioner Daniel Nigro said that ‘The demise of this young EMT which has chosen to help others bravely is a sorrow for our entire agency. We all lament his death and our condolences are with his family.’
His death has shattered the Mondello family.
One of his relative said that, ‘He was a lovely boy and they’re a lovely family,’. ‘We are completely shocked, He continued praising Mondello by saying he was a ‘splendid personality’. ‘Big heart.’