A 24-year-old New Jersey man is the second EMT from the same hospital to die from the coronavirus within a week, according to a report.
Kevin Leiva, who worked as an EMT in North Bergen and at St. Claire’s Dover Hospital, passed away Tuesday from COVID-19 complications, an EMS supervisor for the hospital told NJ.com.
One week earlier, Israel Tolentino Jr., a 33-year-old firefighter in Passaic who also worked as an EMT at Saint Claire’s, died from complications due to the coronavirus, the website reports.
FacebookLeiva’s partner at the hospital, Kara Connolly, said the pair “did everything together” during their two years of working together.
“We became really close,” Connolly told NJ.com. “I talked to him every single day. He’s so selfless. He did everything for anybody.”
Leiva, a Paterson native who lived in Pompton Lakes with his wife, Marina, was also quick with his tongue while on the job, Connolly said.
“He was always known as super funny and positive and hard-working,” she said.
A candlelight vigil for Leiva is planned for 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Passaic EMS headquarters, NJ.com reports.
Gov. Phil Murphy acknowledged Leiva’s service during his press briefing Thursday, according to the website.
“Bless him,” Murphy said. “We thank him for his service … for an extraordinary lifetime … for his service to this state.”



