Emergency workers pay high price for being first on the scene

By Julie Power
Updated November 19 2017 - 3:50pm, first published 3:30pm
Senior firefighter Peter Kirwan suffered a back injury that fed into depression.  Photo: Fire and Rescue NSW
Senior firefighter Peter Kirwan suffered a back injury that fed into depression. Photo: Fire and Rescue NSW

Peter Kirwan thought he was "bulletproof" when he started as a firefighter, unaware that first responders are on average three times more likely to suffer a serious work-related injury or mental illness than other professions.