By Howard Koplowitz
A Floral Park man died in a house fire Sunday morning in Floral Park while his father attempted to rescue him from his two-story bedroom in a blaze that also injured two firefighters, Nassau County police said.
Thomas and Donna Potter were sleeping in a first-floor bedroom when they were awakened by their son, John Potter, 35, who yelled from upstairs to alert them to the fire at around 6:10 a.m. in Floral Park, the Nassau Police Department said.
Thomas Potter tried to climb the stairs to the second-floor home at 33 Clover Ave., but was overwhelmed by the heat and smoke of the fire, police said.
He then fled the home on Clover Avenue with his wife and called 911, police said.
A firefighter gained access to the second floor through a window and found John Potter on the floor of a bedroom in the home, police said. A second firefighter gained access through the interior stairs and both firefighters were able to take John Potter out of the house, police said.
CPR was performed on the victim, who was taken to Winthrop Hospital by the Stewart Manor Fire Department, police said.
John Potter was pronounced dead at 7:29 a.m. by Winthrop Hospital staff, police said.
Two firefighters were also taken to that hospital and released with non-life threatening injuries, police said.
Thomas and Donna Potter were not injured in the blaze, police said.
The fire caused “extensive damage to the house,” police said, but the blaze was ruled an accident.
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 173.
