Colorado paramedic dies while responding to rescue call: 'He never missed an opportunity'

Steve Zuckerman (Credit: Eagle County Paramedic Services)

A Colorado community is mourning the loss of a paramedic who died while responding to a rescue call. 

The Eagle County Paramedic Services said 61-year-old Steve Zuckerman was a full-time paramedic and passed away Friday as he responded to a backcountry rescue call in Vail. 

Authorities did not provide details about his death. 

"Steve was one of the helpers," Eagle County Paramedic Services CEO Brandon Daruna said in a Facebook post. "He never missed an opportunity to contribute, and his death leaves a giant void in our organization and community."

RELATED: Colorado police department's 4-day workweek leads to better response times

Zuckerman worked for Beaver Creek Ski Patrol for more than 25 years. He started as a part-time paramedic in 2008 before becoming full-time in 2013. He was also a member of the search and rescue team in addition to being trained in critical care. 

"EMS is a team sport and I work on an amazing team. Each day brings new challenges and new opportunities to practice field emergency medicine and to make a small difference," Zuckerman recently wrote in a Facebook post. 

This story was reported from Los Angeles.