Story highlights Thomas Phelan joined the fire department in 2003 
 
 Cancer has affected many of the emergency responders 
 
 (CNN) After terrorists struck the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, a New York ferry captain who later became a city firefighter helped evacuate hundreds of people from Lower Manhattan. 
 
 He was Thomas Phelan, 45, one of the many heroes who came to the city's rescue after the attack. Phelan died on Friday, authorities said, one of the thousands of victims of cancer linked to the 9/11 attack. 
 
 Phelan worked for Circle Line Statue of Liberty ferry cruises when the twin towers were hit and helped ferry people from Lower Manhattan, FDNY spokesman Jim Long confirmed. In 2003, Phelan joined the fire department as a firefighter and eventually was promoted to marine pilot, Long said. 
 
 Mayor Bill de Blasio praised Phelan's heroism and mourned his death in a tweet. 
 
 "In our city's darkest hour, @FDNY firefighter Thomas Phelan's heroism saved hundreds of lives," de Blasio said. "We will never forget his service and his sacrifice," he said. 
 
 In our city's darkest hour, @FDNY firefighter Thomas Phelan's heroism saved hundreds of lives. We will never forget his service and his sacrifice. https://t.co/dRn4xVFDza — Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) March 18, 2018 
 
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 "He would help anyone and everyone any chance he could. I just can't believe this and honestly don't understand why it's always the good ones we lose way to early."
– Thomas Phelan's life followed a different trajectory to that of many other 9/11 heroes: He was a hero who became a firefighter. On the day of the attacks, Phelan, who has died of cancer at age 45, was working as a ferry captain for Circle Line-Statue of Liberty ferry cruises. He turned the tour boat into a rescue boat and helped evacuate hundreds of people from lower Manhattan to the other side of the Hudson River, CNN reports. He also helped rush rescue workers and supplies to the area. In May 2003, Phelan joined the New York City Fire Department. He served as a firefighter with Engine Co. 55 before he was promoted to marine pilot. "In our city's darkest hour, @FDNY firefighter Thomas Phelan's heroism saved hundreds of lives," tweeted Mayor Bill de Blasio. "We will never forget his service and his sacrifice." Phelan died Friday of cancer that officials and friends say was related to his exposure to toxic fumes near Ground Zero, the New York Daily News reports. "Always a stand-up guy, always doing the right thing, and will be sorely missed," wrote a fellow firefighter on Facebook. "Rest easy brother." Thousands of people, including many first responders, have died of cancers believed to be linked to the 2001 attacks. (These father and son 9/11 first responders died of cancer within a year of each other.)