A man who tried to revive a pig that had fallen into a river had died, the New York State Police said Tuesday.
The New York City Police Department tweeted that Officer Richard F. DiPiero, 44, was rushed to Bellevue Hospital Center in Syracuse, New York, on Tuesday afternoon after being called to the area of 9th Avenue and East 7th Street.
Authorities said DiPirro found the animal on the sidewalk at 8:10 p.m. and called 911.
He was able to revive it and the pig was taken to a veterinarian for treatment.
The pig was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
DiPieros Facebook page said he was a father of four children, but the post said his last post was Sept. 3.
“Today I found out the pig I love is gone,” the post read.
“I can’t explain the sadness and loss of a pig like I did when I first saw the pig on the street.
I will never forget the look on his face as he was rushed by ambulance to the vet.”
DiPierto, who is a New York native, had been with the police department for 10 years and served for the past nine, the department said.
The police department said that DiPiorno has been on administrative leave pending an investigation.
A man’s dog was found dead in the same spot on a New Jersey highway last year, but it was not clear if the animal was DiPiaros.