Tragedy struck in Manhattan's Little Italy neighborhood when two men, working as construction workers, were discovered unconscious in a stairwell over the weekend. The New York City Police Department reported to The Post that the victims, aged 35 and 34, were found inside an apartment building at 118 Mulberry Street shortly before 4 p.m. yesterday. The 34-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene, while the 35-year-old received CPR before being taken to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, where he too was later pronounced dead. The cause of their deaths is currently under investigation.
Despite the gravity of the situation, life in bustling Little Italy seemed to go on with little disruption. Patrons dining at nearby establishments such as Casa Bella and Manero’s Pizza witnessed a stretcher carrying one of the individuals past their tables. However, according to The Post, the incident appeared to barely register among the outdoor diners and passersby. The contrast between an ordinary day in the neighborhood and the unfolding tragedy was stark.
At the scene of an incident, heartbreak was palpable as relatives and friends of the deceased grappled with the sudden loss. "We're traumatized," Betul Sinar, manager of Buona Notte restaurant, which is located in the proximity of the calamity, told ABC7 New York. Distraught loved ones were present as the bodies were removed by the Medical Examiner. Maria Juarez, girlfriend of one of the victims and part of their work crew, explained to ABC7 New York how the crew was summoned for lunch and the two men didn't respond. "She go upstairs, she check him, but she find him on the floor," Juarez recounted.
