Firefighter in ICU After Fight in Whitehall Ferry Terminal

A firefighter is in critical condition after a violent altercation erupted inside the Whitehall Terminal on his way to Staten Island early Monday morning. Matthew Dugan, 34, who is assigned to Ladder 15 near the South Street Seaport, had to undergo emergency surgery to relieve swelling on the brain caused by the fight, which started around 1:30 a.m. as he entered the terminal with his girlfriend after drinking at a lower Manhattan bar. Witnesses tell police the fight started when three people laughed at Dugan's girlfriend after she tripped. One bystander tells the Post, "When they laughed, he told them to grow up. They said, ‘Shut the f—k up before we beat you up.’" The situation quickly escalated, and the assailants, described only as two men and one woman, began hitting him in the head and punching him in the face. Dugan, who was off-duty, didn't lose consciousness, but was bleeding heavily from his face and mouth when the ambulance arrived. One of his fellow firefighters tells the Daily News, "We're hoping he's going to be okay." And investigators are reviewing surveillance video showing suspects running from the terminal after the brawl.

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By John Del Signore in News on September 8, 2009 10:05 AM

Comments [rss]

seven

Ah, when meatheads and alcohol mix, somebody always ends up in the hospital.

JacqueMehoff

one would think there would be sufficient security on the Manhattan side of the terminal.

I wish the fireman well and the sick punks fall off the ferry.

Rocknrope

Hopefully justice will be served, by the law or the boys at Ladder 15.

Mr Mel

Another case of Macho gone wrong.

Rocknrope

Hopefully justice will be served, by the law or the boys at Ladder 15.

sexisicilian

What was his g/f doing; did she get help?!

whitecastlerock

There was a bystander yet the best description of the assailants is two men and one woman... Pathetic

Kojak

"...three people laughed at Dugan's girlfriend after she tripped."

How gentlemanly.

valeriob

You stay classy Staten Island.

FrankMartin

When they catch these 3 I wonder how FDNY response time will be at their homes should they ever, you know, catch fire.

felixthecat2

Where the hell was security? Great job, homeland security.

mocanlagunas

Security?!? I was sitting on a concrete barrier next to the Governor's Island Ferry Terminal and one of them came to tell me to get off the barrier. I guess my butt would have damaged the damn thing... who makes this stupid rules?!?