Life and Limb - New FDNY Paramedic Overcomes Odds

Paramedic David Kruysman made FDNY history yesterday when he became the first member of the department with a prosthetic limb.

Kruysman, 37, who wears a prosthesis on his left leg below his knee, is one of 16 new medics set the hit the streets of the Big Apple this week.

The Garden City, L.I., native, who was born with a partial left leg, began the rigorous program to become a city paramedic in January, and was sworn in at La Guardia Community College in Queens yesterday morning with 77 others.

Kruysman worked as a medic for three years in North Bellmore, L.I., before he applied to the FDNY. He had spent six years as an EMT at St. John's Hospital prior to that, but joining the Fire Department had been a lifelong dream.

"It's been something I've wanted to do since I was a kid; I wanted to be a firefighter, that's impossible," Kruysman said.

While in the EMS academy, Kruysman participated in the all the physical instruction and held his own among his peers.

"Going to class, people were surprised when I first produced a running foot for physical training, but I had no physical problems with it," Kruysman - who will be working out of Station 57 in Brooklyn - told The Post.

His beaming wife, Amy, explained that her husband was determined to make it.

"I am extremely proud of him, I am at a loss for words," she said, clutching their 3-year-old son, Aidan.

News stories provided by third parties are not edited by "Site Publication" staff. For suggestions and comments, please click the Contact link at the bottom of this page.