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Video Reportedly Shows Man Stumbling Into Open Manhole

By

Jen Chung

Published Oct 16, 2019

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The manhole on West 58th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue

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By

Jen Chung

Published Oct 16, 2019

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The medical examiner's office will determine the cause of death of a man whose decaying body was found in a Manhattan manhole, but detectives have apparently found surveillance footage that shows a person falling into the opening last month.

The body was discovered early Tuesday morning, when Verizon workers went to open the manhole on 58th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue. They were confronted by a terrible smell and then saw the man. The authorities responded, and EMS pronounced the man dead at the scene.

The Post reports, "Surveillance video showed the man plunging into the open, unattended hole at about 2:30 a.m. on Sept. 30 — and never reemerging. The man had barged through a series of safety barriers set up by Verizon utility employees who were working underground at West 58th Street and Eighth Avenue, but who had left the hole unattended at the time of the incident."

About two hours later, workers, not realizing that someone had fallen into the manhole, put the cover back on, according to WABC 7.

The Post's sources said "the man had been partially eaten by rats and was badly decomposed by the time he was discovered."

There was a still "strong smell" around the manhole on Tuesday; WABC 7 spotted "Verizon crews... pumping fresh air into the shaft so they could eventually work there."

Tagged

manhole

manhattan

mysterious death

Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

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