A New York City firefighter, who heroically aided in the evacuation of thousands of people in Lower Manhattan on Sept. 11, 2001 as the deadliest terror attack in U.S. history unfolded, has died.

Thomas Phelan, 45, of Brooklyn, died on Friday, according to the Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York. Phelan, family and friends told the New York Daily News he died from cancer linked to the toxic fumes at Ground Zero.

He was the 172nd firefighter to die as a result of an illness related to the attacks at the World Trade Center in 2001, according to the association.

The ferry captain joined the Fire Department of New York in May 2003, where he was assigned to Engine Co. 55, the Daily News reported. Phelan later joined Marine 9 in Staten Island, where he worked as a pilot.

Mayor Bill de Blasio wrote that Phelan, whose “heroism saved hundreds of lives … in our city’s darkest hour,â€� would never be forgotten.

“[Phelan’s] work during the evacuation of Manhattan on 9/11 will not be forgotten,� the association stated. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. This has been a hard week for firefighters.�

Phelan’s death came a day after two FDNY firefighters — Lt. Christopher J. Raguso and Fire Marshal Christopher T. Zanetis. Lt. Raguso and Fire Marshal Zanetis — died in a U.S. Air Force helicopter crash in western Iraq. 

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