Firefighter injured in ALS challenge dies

A Kentucky firefighter injured in an Ice Bucket Challenge has died a month after a power line shocked him and another man.

Tony Grider, 41, died Saturday, Campbellsville Fire Chief Kyle Smith said.

Grider, a captain with the department, and firefighter Simon Quinn. 22, had been spraying water from the raised bucket of a ladder truck onto Campbellsville University's marching band to raise awareness of the disease ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, on Aug. 21. The two firefighters were lowering the bucket when it got too close to a power line.

"His family would like to sincerely thank all of those who have been there for them following this tragic accident," Smith said.

Funeral arrangements were pending Saturday.

Quinn was released from the hospital Sept. 15.

Two other firefighters were able to take control of the ladder from below and lower the bucket to help Grider and Quinn. They were shocked as well but were not seriously injured.

Campbellsville police Chief Tim Hazlette has said the power line was never touched, but it carried such a high voltage that it arced onto the ladder, shocking the firefighters.

Most of the students had already left the area, and no students were hurt.

Grider, a 16-year veteran of the fire department, was one of nine full-time "career" firefighters at the department, and his loss will be felt, Hazlette said.

"Tony was a very talented person," he said. "It was his calling, and he took it very serious."

Since the Ice Bucket Challenge caught on nationally through social media, the ALS Association said it has raised more than $41 million.

Campbellsville University, a private college, is a Christian institution that has about 3,600 students, according to its website. It is about 65 miles south of Louisville.

This story was originally published September 21, 2014 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Firefighter injured in ALS challenge dies."