Former NYPD detective and 9/11 first responder Luis Alvarez dies from cancer at 53, just two weeks after appearing in Congress with John Stewart to demand more compensation for the heroes who got sick after searching for survivors at Ground Zero

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A 9/11 responder who earlier this month received a standing ovation when he pleaded with Congress to replenish the September 11th victims fund, has died following a three-year battle with cancer, his family revealed on Saturday.

Retired NYPD detective, Luis Alvarez, 53, gave his final interview on June 20 shortly after revealing his advanced-stage colorectal cancer diagnosis had caused his liver to fail, leaving him days away from death.

Alvarez was diagnosed with the disease in 2016, with doctors linking the cancer to the three months he spent at Ground Zero searching for survivors and remains among the rubble.

His family announced his death in a heart-breaking Facebook post, remarking their time with Alvarez to be ‘a blessing’ and called him ‘a warrior’ for the brave battle he fought.

‘Please remember his words, “Please take care of yourselves and each other,”’ his family urged.

‘We told him at the end that he had won this battle by the many lives he had touched by sharing his three year battle. He was at peace with that, surrounded by family. Thank you for giving us this time we have had with him, it was a blessing.’

Luis Alvarez, 53, died on Saturday following complications caused by his advanced-stage colorectal cancer diagnosis, family members revealed on Saturday

Alvarez (center) was diagnosed with the condition in 2016, with doctors linking the disease to the three months he spent at Ground Zero, searching for survivors and remains among the rubble

Accompanied by comedian Jon Stewart, father-of-three Alvarez appeared before congress on June 11 and delivering a rousing appeal before a House Judiciary subcommittee in Washington, ordering the panel to replenish the dwindling September 11th Victim Compensation Fund.

‘I should not be here with you, but you made me come,' he bluntly told lawmakers last week.

'You made me come down here the day before my 69th round of chemo and I'm going to make sure that you never forget to take care of the 9/11 responders.'

At the end of his testimony the hushed chamber erupted with applause with many people seen wiping away their tears.  

'He exemplified the NYPD motto, "Fidelis Ad Mortem," or "Faithful Unto Death,' Police Chief Dermot F. Shea tweeted Saturday in response to Alvarez's death. 

'An inspiration, a warrior, a friend - we will carry his sword,' he added. 

Accompanied by comedian Jon Stewart, father-of-three Alvarez appeared before congress on June 11 and delivering a hoarse appeal before a House Judiciary subcommittee in Washington

In his final interview last Thursday, the 20-year veteran of the NYPD told gathering reporters that he had made 'peace’ with the idea of succumbing to his disease. 

Alvarez selflessly used his last-ever public address to once again urge federal lawmakers to replenish the September 11th fund.

‘I'm doing well. I'm comfortable. I'm not in a lot of pain. I have my family surrounding me and I'm at peace,’ Alvarez told Fox News, adding that he has ‘no regrets’ about helping to search for victims among the wreckage of the Twin Towers.

‘I have no regrets - no regrets whatsoever,’ he said. ‘9/11 happened. We got called down. It's my job as an NYPD detective to respond to emergencies. So, no hesitation. We went down, spent about three months down there doing the bucket brigade, doing rooftop detail, trying to find remains.

‘I did what every other FDNY, NYPD, EMS worker - everybody. I'm nobody special. I did what all the other guys did. And now we're paying the price for it.’

Alvarez shared the tragic news of his declining health on Facebook telling friends he had stopped treatment because 'there is nothing else the doctors can do'.

Alongside the post Alvarez shared an undated image of himself before his 2016 diagnosis, in which he cuts a muscular, heavy-set figure.

The cancer ravaged his body, rendering him virtually unrecognizable from his former self when he appeared in Congress. 

In his final interview, Alvarez warned that he wouldn't be alone in dying from 9/11-related afflictions, going as far to say the issue was sure to become an ‘epidemic’ and Congress needed to act promptly with foresight to replenish the fund.

‘We did our job, congress has to do theirs. We were told the air was safe down there and it wasn't. But you know what, that doesn't matter. Because we would have went in anyway. Because that's what we do. It's not a job for us. It's a calling.

‘There's going to be more and more first responders getting sick. And our government has to take care of them. It's just a matter of decency, a matter of doing the right thing. We did the right thing when we went down there. Now it's the government's turn to do the right thing by us.’

Alvarez received a standing ovation when he finished his emotional testimony before a House Judiciary subcommittee. He is seated center surrounded by former Daily Show host Jon Stewart (right) FealGood Foundation co-founder John Feal (center) and retired FDNY Lieutenant and 9/11 responder Michael O'Connelll (left)

'He exemplified the NYPD motto, "Fidelis Ad Mortem," or "Faithful Unto Death,' NYPD Chief Demot F. Shea tweeted in response to the news of Alvarez's death. 'An inspiration, a warrior, a friend - we will carry his sword'

Alvarez shared the tragic news of his declining health on Facebook telling friends he had stopped treatment because 'there is nothing else the doctors can do'. Alongside the post Alvarez shared an undated image of himself before his 2016 diagnosis, in which he cuts a muscular, heavy-set figure (left)

In his final interview, Alvarez warned that he wouldn't be alone in dying from 9/11-related afflictions, going as far to say the issue was sure to become an ‘epidemic’ and Congress needed to act promptly with foresight to replenish the fund.

The fund is in serious danger of running completely dry after the Justice Department announced it would be cutting pay-outs by as much as 70 percent, hoping to preserve its reserves for the years ahead.

Legislation had set aside $7.3billion dollars to compensate the victims of the 9/11 attacks and their families, including those killed and first responders.

But $5billion has already been paid out to 21,000 victims, and families and their advocates say at least another $5billion is needed to cover 19,000 pending claims. 

Alvarez voiced that he thought of himself as lucky and ‘blessed’ because of the fund when speaking to FOX, insisting the vital assistance provided by the fund allowed him to find the best quality treatment to keep his prognosis at bay.

But however lucky he may feel for the bought time, Alvarez admitted the thought of leaving his sons behind was a tough to contemplate.

‘It's not fair - I've been blessed. I got sick 16 years after the fact,’ Alvarez began. ‘This is my son, David. He was 11 years old on 9/11. He's 29 years old now. And I'm leaving him without a father. I also have two other sons, Tyler and Ben, who are 19 and 14. And I'm leaving them without a father.’

The fund is projected to completely run dry by 2020. 

‘This is my son, David. He was 11 years old on 9/11. He's 29 years old now. And I'm leaving him without a father,' an emotional Alvarez said last Thursday

Alvarez is survived by his mother, Aida; his wife, Lanie Alvarez (pictured); his sons, David, Tyler and Ben; and his brothers, Fernando and Phil

Alvarez warned lawmakers the issue of first responders of 9/11 falling critically ill was sure to become 'an epidemic' (pictured: Part of the facade of one of the twin towers of the World Trade Center still stands as rescue and cleaning efforts continue on September 13, 2001)

Alvarez was born in October 1965 in Queens and graduated from Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School in East Elmhurst, according to the New York Times.

He later served in the Marines and studied at the City University of New York, before joining the NYPD in 1990.

He was initially assigned to the 108th Precinct in Long Island City, but transferred to the narcotics division in 1993 and was promoted to detective two years later.

Alvarez was recognized for police work excellence five times throughout his career and retired on disability in 2010.

He is survived by his mother, Aida; his wife, Lanie Alvarez; his sons, David, Tyler and Ben; and his brothers, Fernando and Phil.

'I did not want to be anywhere else but ground zero when I was there,' Alvarez told Congress. 

'[But] Now the 9/11 illnesses have taken many of us, and we are all worried about our children, our spouses and our families and what happens if we are not here.'