NEW YORK, May 15, 2005
NYC Firefighter Wins 'Survivor'
Tom Westman Bests Them All; Runner-Up: Katie Gallagher
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N.Y.'s Bravest 'Survivor'
Thirty-nine days, 18 castaways, two tribes on 'Survivor: Palau,' but Tom Westman was the winner. The N.Y. firefigher tells The Early Show about the competition.
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Final Four Of 'Survivor'
On the 'Survivor: Palau' finale, alliances were questioned and broken. On The Early Show, the Final Four — Ian, Katie, Jen and Tom — discuss the behind-the-scene action.
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New York City Fire Lieutenant Tom Westman of Ladder Company 108 in Brooklyn was cheered on by fellow firefighters as the final votes were counted for his "Survivor: Palau" victory. (CBS/The Early Show)
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Survivor: Palau
See photos and videos devoted to the players of the game.
Survival and teamwork are after all both a life and death matter and everyday stuff for New York City firefighter Tom Westman, who has just won "Survivor: Palau."
Westman learned he'd won a million dollars in the live finale of CBS' "Survivor: Palau" Sunday night.
Westman, 41, is a second-generation firefighter, following in the footsteps of his dad, and is himself a lieutenant with Ladder Company 108 in Brooklyn. Many of Westman's fellow firefighters were in the audience cheering him on as the "Survivor" votes were counted.
Westman, who will collect his winnings in a live appearance Monday on the CBS Early Show, says he won by simply being himself.
Too soon to say what Westman - who lives on Long Island, N.Y., with his wife and three children - will be doing with the potentially life-changing sum of money.
In addition to being an athlete who enjoys sailing, skiing, golfing and scuba diving, Westman works with disabled veterans to teach them adaptive skiing. He's also working on a Bachelor of Arts degree at Queens College. Like many firefighters, Weston also enjoys cooking but says he most enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Westman's competition in the final vote count was radio ad saleswoman Katie Gallagher from Merced, California. She gets $100,000 as the runner-up.
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