A serious incident has shocked New York, after an Albanian woman tragically lost her life after falling into an open manhole in Manhattan. The victim has been identified as Donike Gocaj, 56, originally from Albania, who lived in Westchester County. According to American media, the woman had parked her vehicle near the luxury Cartier store in Midtown Manhattan, when just a few steps after getting out of the car, she disappeared into an open manhole that was filled with steam and boiling water.
Forensic experts confirmed that the cause of death was a combination of blunt force trauma to the body, severe burns and fatal injuries from inhaling hot steam. Former New York City medical examiner officials said the most serious damage came from the steam destroying the lungs and the ability to take in oxygen.
A witness at the scene described the dramatic moments, saying the woman was repeatedly screaming “she’s dying” from inside the well, while passersby tried to help her with ladders and improvised tools. According to the Con Edison company, the manhole cover was allegedly displaced just minutes earlier by the passage of a heavy truck. US authorities have launched an investigation into the case. Family members describe Donike Gocaj as a devoted mother and grandmother, while friends say she was on her way to work for the night shift when the tragedy occurred.