Gerald Leduc Tribute

A Tiverton firefighter who died searching a pond for a missing man will be laid to rest.

A funeral Mass for firefighter Gerald Leduc will be celebrated Friday morning at St. Theresa's Church. Officials expect thousands of people to attend.

The 53-year-old firefighter was off-duty Sunday evening when he grabbed his scuba gear and headed to Stafford Pond to search for a missing boater, Joseph Traficante.

A short while later, rescue crews noticed Leduc motionless in the water. Traficante was later found dead in about 20 feet of water.

Numerous firefighters from across the region attended Leduc's wake Thursday in Fall River, Mass.

His casket will be carried by an antique fire truck during a procession Friday morning in Tiverton.