FDNY EMS Paramedic Dies In Fall In Colorado

A 31-year-old FDNY paramedic was found dead days after he took a hike alone on a dangerous mountain peak in Colorado, officials said.

Leonard “Lenny” Joyner was on a 14,000-foot summit on a popular string of mountains called the Maroon Bells in the White River National Forest - 11 miles south of Aspen - when he took a fatal fall, said Deputy Sheriff George Kremer of the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office.


Joyner had climbed to the top of South Maroon Peak on Thursday about 10 a.m., the last time he was seen, but had later signed the North Maroon Peak summit registry, Kremer said.

The 6-year paramedic arrived in Denver on Wednesday and told his buddies he was scaling the mountain Thursday, according to Kremer. He planned to fly back to New York on Friday so he could get to work by Saturday, Kremer said.

“This last Saturday, he didn’t show up for work,” Kremer said. “The guys he works with called his brother who knew of his plans in Colorado.”

Searches turned up nothing over the last few days as efforts were halted by thunderstorms that attacked the area, Kremer said.

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