PATCHOGUE — Doctors are racing against time to save the life of a volunteer firefighter who is battling a flesh eating bacteria known as necrotizing fasciitis. According to the man's father, the 26-year-old was healthy until a little over a week ago when he reported painful bump on his knee. Ralph Lettieri was then admitted to Brookhaven Hospital Sunday where he was diagnosed. According to the National Necrotizing Fasciitis Foundation, the bacteria can enter the body in different ways and symptoms include swollen tissue, a sunburn type rash and painful boil-like blisters. Victim's can eventually go into toxic shock, says the site.

Lettieri's father is begging anyone who may have expert knowledge of the bacteria to help save his son's life.