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Encouraging news has come to the family of the late Ernie Dombrowski, a Surrey firefighter who took his own life two years ago after suffering workplace trauma.

WorkSafe B.C., a provincial agency that pays compensation for employment-related injuries, has determined his death was due to “psychological injury” suffered on the job.

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While the finding will never bring him back, his widow Gena Dombrowski said it is comforting to know that 44-year-old Ernie lost his life in the line of duty.

“It was kind of bittersweet when I first heard about it. It’s good for the family but we don’t have Ernie,” said Dombrowski, who is raising their 15-year-old son Jason on her own.

The ruling means the family will receive more than $3,000 a month in survivor’s benefits, which Gena said will provide “huge” financial relief.

Being killed in the line of duty also means he will be among the B.C. firefighters honoured on Monday (March 6) when his name will go up on a B.C. firefighters’ memorial wall during a ceremony near the legislature in Victoria.