The firefighter hit by a bus while biking to work during last month’s transit strike is still in critical condition, but friends and family say he’s hanging tough.
Matthew Long, 39, who has competed in several triathlons, is “doing OK. He’s fighting,” said his brother Jim, who added Matthew is alert, but not able to talk yet.
“He’s kind of in his own triathlon right now and he’s just coming out of the water and hopping on his bike now,” friend Terry Brennan told The Post yesterday.
“He’s got a tough road ahead of him but he’s strong.”
Long has undergone six surgeries after suffering multiple fractures and sustaining massive internal injuries.
He has several more surgeries ahead of him. Relatives are hosting another blood drive Saturday afternoon at two family-owned bars on the East Side – Turtle Bay at 987 Second Ave. and Third and Long at 523 Third Ave.
For more information or to schedule a donation appointment, call (800) 933-2566 or log on to nybloodcenter.org or nyc.gov/fdny. Give donation officials Long’s code, which is 43369.
stephanie.gaskell@nypost.com