A retired Bronx firefighter who served in the South Bronx has died at the age of 46 from a 9/11-related illness.

Daniel R. Foley died Saturday after a battle with pancreatic cancer, a disease the fire department says he developed from his time at the World Trade Center while trying to find his brother – a fellow firefighter who was killed on 9/11.

Foley transferred to Rescue Company 3 in Morrisania after his brother was killed at age 32.

"Danny Foley was the epitome of a great fireman. He's going to be missed each and every day in this firehouse," says Lt. Mickey Conboy.

Conboy says the company lost eight firefighters who were killed in the line of duty on 9/11. Foley became the first to die from a related illness.

Conboy says Foley received three department medals for rescues he made during his time at Rescue 3. His last day on the job was one year ago this past Thursday.

"I went to see Danny in the hospital and reminded him of the fire we had just down the block here on Webster Avenue where he crawled down a hallway past the fire into a back room and rescued four children trapped in the back room," Conboy recalls.

Foley leaves behind a wife and five kids. The youngest is 6 years old.