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A 56-year-old grandmother tragically lost her life after falling into an uncovered manhole in Midtown Manhattan, according to the city’s medical examiner. Donike Gocaj suffered severe scald burns and other serious injuries, with officials ruling her death accidental.
The incident occurred Monday night around 11:20 p.m. as Gocaj was parking her SUV on East 52nd Street near Fifth Avenue. She unexpectedly fell into an open manhole, which exposed her to the city’s high-temperature steam system. New York City’s steam pipes often carry water at temperatures reaching approximately 456 degrees Fahrenheit, making such accidents particularly dangerous.
Barbara Butcher, former chief of staff at the city’s medical examiner’s office, explained that Gocaj’s injuries were consistent with a fall into steam-filled manholes. She highlighted that the most severe damage came from inhaling the steam, which likely caused significant harm to the alveoli-the lung tissue responsible for oxygen exchange. As a result, swelling would have impaired Gocaj’s ability to breathe, compounding the burns on her skin.
The medical examiner’s report noted that Gocaj suffered both inhalational thermal injuries and blunt force trauma to her torso. Forensic pathologist Lee Ann Grossberg described the injuries as causing “a really painful death.”
Eyewitnesses attempted to help Gocaj immediately after the fall. One witness recalled hearing her cry out, “I’m dying,” as she was trapped in the opening, surrounded by scalding water and steam.
Carl Wood, another bystander, said Gocaj showed no signs of distraction before the accident, such as using a phone. However, he criticized the lack of safety measures around the manhole.
The manhole cover was found right beside the hole, but there were no cones, barricades, or warnings in place to prevent the fall.
This tragic event has raised concerns about the safety protocols surrounding exposed manholes in the city and highlights the potentially deadly risks posed by the city’s steam infrastructure when proper precautions are not observed.