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Kentucky firefighter injured in ice bucket challenge dies

Capt. Tony Grider died Saturday from injuries sustained while performing the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge with college students last month.

By Fred Lambert

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Sept. 20 (UPI) -- A firefighter from Kentucky has died of injuries sustained when his fire department assisted a group of college students perform the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge last month.

Capt. Tony Grider, 41, died Saturday at University of Louisville's Medical Center Burn Unit after he was electrocuted on Aug. 21 while helping students from the University of Campbellsville perform the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

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"His family would like to sincerely thank all of those who have been there for them following this tragic accident," Campbellsville Fire Chief Kyle Smith told CBS News.

The accident occurred when the fire truck drenched the school's marching band with water. The aerial ladder that Grider and three other firefighters rode in got too close to a power line, and the resultant electrical arc caused burns on Grider and at least two others.

WDRB reports that one of the injured, firefighter Simon Quinn, was released from the hospital on Tuesday.

Campbellsville Police Chief Tim Hazlette said that while the ladder never actually touched the power line, its high voltage energized the bucket in which the firefighters rode.

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No students were injured in the incident.

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, in which potential donors dump cold water on their heads to raise awareness for Lou Gehrig's Disease, swept the web throughout the summer. The ALS Association reported that worldwide donations as of Aug. 29 have surpassed $100 million.

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