A frantic rescue attempt unfolded when an elderly woman fell into an open manhole in Manhattan. Bystanders rushed to help, but it quickly became a tragic situation.
The incident occurred late Monday night, as 56-year-old Donike Gokai suddenly disappeared into a 10-foot hole outside a Cartier store on Fifth Avenue. Witness Carl Wood described the horrifying moment, noting how he heard her desperate screams before dialing 911.
Wood recounted how some people attempted to rescue a man who had positioned himself over the hole, trying to pull him down to reach Gokai. “We were trying to lift him up… but she was too far gone,” Wood reflected.
Others nearby frantically searched for items to help, running to their cars for anything that might assist in the rescue. One person managed to get a ladder, but it turned out to be too short to reach Gokai.
Emergency responders arrived in a few minutes, but their initial assessment led them to bring a stretcher and place it nearby without any effective means of rescue. Firefighters arrived shortly afterward, but unfortunately, by that time, Gokai’s screams had faded away.
It took about 30 minutes for them to extract her from the hole, but she was rushed to NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she was declared dead.
Gokai, a mother and grandmother from Briarcliff Manor in Westchester County, had fallen into the manhole after exiting a parked Mercedes-Benz SUV shortly before 11:20 p.m. Witnesses noted the lack of safety cones or barriers around the area at the time of the incident.
Despite the fall not being particularly far, the conditions inside the hole were severe, with one bystander commenting that Gokai appeared to be in what looked like “a puddle.”
Fire officials reported that they had to wear masks due to the intense heat of the situation, with one firefighter emerging drenched in sweat, further indicating the harsh environment inside the manhole.
Con Edison announced that security footage revealed the cover had been removed by a truck just 12 minutes prior to Gokai’s fall, leading to questions about the safety measures in place.
“We are looking into the specifics,” stated a Con Edison representative. “While this is a rare event, it’s possible for a manhole cover to be dislodged by heavy vehicles. Our condolences go out to her family, and ensuring safety is our top concern.”
