Edward Sinnott, a 59-year-old worker, was sucked into a collapsing cesspool on May 24, resulting in an hours-long, unsuccessful rescue effort. Another worker nearly was sucked in when the sinkhole developed around 1 p.m., but managed to grab onto construction equipment.
Local responders – including those from Nassau County Emergency Service, Suffolk County Police Second Precinct and Emergency Service Section, Nassau County Emergency Service, the Huntington and Huntington Manor fire departments, the Greenlawn Fire Department and Dix Hills Fire Department – finally recovered Sinnott’s body around 7 p.m. as friends, family and neighbors waited.
Sinnott was an employee of Antorino & Sons, which was installing the cesspool when the dirt around the excavation started collapsing, creating the giant sinkhole. Sinnott reportedly was directing a crane when he was sucked into the hole and covered in as much as 15 feet of dirt and mud.
OSHA is investigating the fatality.
A YouCaring page has been set up to help the family of Edward Sinnott. Please click here to donate.