A New York firefighter has died as a result of an illness he contracted during the September 11th attacks back in 2001.

The FDNY says Richard Driscoll is its 200th member to die of a World Trade Centre-related disease.

Mr Driscoll retired in 2002, after serving the department for 32 years.

The FDNY says: "He bravely responded to the attacks on the World Trade Centre on September 11th 2001, and worked tirelessly in the rescue and recovery efforts that followed.

"Firefighter Driscoll served our country during the Vietnam War, and was cited for bravery five times during his FDNY career."

FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro says: "It is almost incomprehensible that after losing 343 members on September 11th, we have now had 200 more FDNY members die due to World Trade Centre illness.

"These heroes gave their lives bravely fighting to rescue and recover others. We will never forget them."

A view of World Trade Centre towers after a hijacked flight crashed into each structure in lower Manhattan on September 11th, 2001 | Image: PA/PA Archive/PA Images

Remembering another fireifghter, Kevin Nolan, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio paid tribute.

He says: "200 members of the FDNY have now succumbed to WTC-related illness.

"They didn't hesitate to run into danger. They stayed until the work was done."

He also called on the US Senate to fully fund the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund.

Rest in peace, firefighters Richard Driscoll and Kevin Nolan.

200 members of the FDNY have now succumbed to WTC-related illness. They didn't hesitate to run into danger. They stayed until the work was done.

The Senate MUST fully fund the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. pic.twitter.com/pHTif6PwCL

— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) July 18, 2019

The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund was created to provide compensation for any people, or their families, who suffered physical harm or were killed as a result of the terror attacks.

This also covered debris removal efforts that took place in the immediate aftermath.

The original fund ran from 2001 to 2004, but has been extended for five years to allow people submit claims until December 2020.

Nineteen men hijacked four US airliners on September 11th 2001.

A total of 2,977 people were killed in New York City, Washington DC and outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

The latter saw United Airlines flight 93 crash into a field when passengers fought back against the hijackers.