Emergency crews in Lake Placid, New York are continuing to search for a 49-year-old Toronto firefighter who disappeared while on a skiing trip earlier this week.
Constantinos ‘Danny’ Filippidis was last seen sometime between 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday while skiing on Whiteface Mountain.
New York State Police say that crews have been searching for Filippidis since he was reported missing late Wednesday afternoon.
The “massive” search committee consists of more than 140 forest rangers, state police officers, members of Homeland Security, area ski patrols and Toronto firefighters.
Filippidis has been described as an intermediate skier. State police say he went missing during a particularly bad snowstorm, which likely made visibility poor and has subsequently hampered search efforts.
In a message posted to Twitter on Friday morning, Toronto Fire Chief Matthew Pegg said that his “thoughts and prayers” are with all those involved in what has become a “difficult situation.”
“It’s tough. Our organization’s hurting and obviously first and foremost my thoughts and prayers go out to all of Danny’s family and friends and all his collegaues who are concerned… We’re all very concerned,” Pegg told CTV News Toronto.
According to an email sent to members of the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters' Association, a group of off-duty firefighters were in Lake Placid for an annual ski trip when Filippidis disappeared.
“He’s very well trained and has a very significant amount of medical training, so you know, I guess that has to help,” Pegg said. “We’re very hopeful.”
A representative from the union and councillors from the Critical Incident Stress Team are also on the scene.
“I know a lot of people stayed to help,” Kevin McCarthy of the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association said. “It’s an organized search and they’re playing the roles they’ve been offered to serve.”
“Local authorities have requested that no additional Toronto Fire Fighters respond to assist in the search at this time, as it is felt that it will only impede the efforts already underway,” the email states.
