Two Dead After Falling into Tarrytown Manhole

Two men have died after succumbing to fumes and falling down an approximately 15-foot manhole behind Consolidated Engine Fire House in Tarrytown on Monday evening.

Tarrytown Village Administrator Michael Blau identified the men as John Kelly and Anthony Ruggiero.

Kelly, a long-time member of the Tarrytown Fire Department, was a member with Riverside Hose Company before moving to Conqueror Hook & Ladder Company. Ruggiero, also a volunteer firefighter with Hope Hose Company Engine 79, was the village's Road Maintenance Foreman with the Department of Public Works, he had worked for the village for over 20 years.

"Obviously there has been a really horrible tragedy here tonight and two men lost their lives," Tarrytown Mayor Drew Fixell said. "The entire village, their prayers all go out to the families of these two men who were doing their jobs and one of them, a firefighter, who was acting heroically trying to save the other."

Events that led up to the incident began at about 3:54 p.m. when the village received reports of a sewage backup in the Sheldon Avenue neighborhood. Village DPW workers began uncovering manholes to isolate and locate the site of the backup.

Ruggiero went into the manhole behind Consolidated Engine Company around 6:30 p.m. As he descended into the manhole, he lost consciousness and fell backwards. Tarrytown police were notified at 6:37 p.m.

"The police department received a call that a man had fallen down a manhole," Blau said. "Police responded and found two men in the manhole."

Kelly had been quick to respond to the scene and had attempted to rescue Ruggiero, Blau said. He too was overcome and lost consciousness. Both men had gone down the manhole without oxygen tanks.

Police called for a hazardous materials unit and an advanced rescue team from Greenburgh to help rescue the men.

While the teams were one their way, Tarrytown Fire Department Second Assistant Chief Gene Gasparre put on an oxygen tank and carried supplemental oxygen for both men and descended into the manhole aided by firefighter Felix Sartario.

"They did what they could under horrible circumstances to get these guys out and give them a chance," Fixell said. "Even though it didn't work out in the end, it was truly heroic selfless actions by our fire department, our police department and our volunteer ambulance corps."

The fire department set up a tripod and winch system that was pulled by numerous firefighters to bring the men to the surface.

Kelly was the first one lifted out, followed by Ruggiero. Both men were rushed to waiting Tarrytown Volunteer Ambulance Corps ambulances while being given CPR.

They were taken to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla where they were pronounced dead. Blau said their families were at the hospital at their side.

The Tarrytown Fire Department and rescuers from neighboring jurisdictions including Sleepy Hollow and Irvington continued to work the area to make sure oxygen levels were safe along side a hazardous materials team from the county.

A detective from the Tarrytown Police Department is continuing the investigation. A sergeant with Greenburgh's technical rescue team took over the scene as crews worked into the evening. More information will be released after a full investigation.

After 9:30 p.m. Tarrytown firefighters were called for a critical incident stress debriefing. Flags have since been lowered to half mast at local fire stations, and the Tarrytown Fire Department will not be in service until 4 p.m. on Tuesday – their calls will be handled by Sleepy Hollow and other responders.

Blau said that firefighters, and village employees at the scene, were distraught over losing two good men who had long served the community. 

"The firefighters and and the public works employees were truly broken up," Blau said. "They were good men and they had friends throughout the community and when they heard this they were terribly broken up. It's a terrible thing."

Check back for updates on this story.