An EMS worker who spent more than 100 hours at the site of the World Trade Center following the September 11th terrorist attacks was laid to rest.

Mourners gathered at the Holy Child Church on Staten Island Saturday to attend the funeral for Lieutenant Brian Ellicott, an EMS worker who was diagnosed in September with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

"He loved his job,” said co-worker Captain Jackie Sullivan. “He loved saving people's lives. He loved being out there in the field and he loved working to help people. It didn't matter whether it was a fire or a car accident. He knew what he was going into and he loved it."

The 14-year veteran of the FDNY had his worker’s compensation claim denied by the city's Law Department.

"We thought the city would be here for us and they are not," said EMS union President Thomas Eppinger.

Eppinger and many others who believe Ellicott’s death is died to 9/11, say they will fight to make sure his family receives full benefits — even though right now there is no concrete link between the EMS worker’s death and his work at the WTC site.

"Brian's family is receiving minimal, minimal monetary award from his pension fund and this is a family that needs their house and needs food on the table, and we are not asking a lot," he said. "The Law Department isn't acknowledging any cases that are Trade Center-related. It's a fight."

Union leaders say that Ellicott's claim package submitted by the Fire Department was incomplete
Fire officials say his family is eligible to reapply.