A devoted father of two was killed in a freak accident when a wrench fell 120 feet into a manhole and struck the victim’s head as he worked underground Monday, police and family said.
Paulo Couto, 54, was cleaning a water tank in Long Island City when the hose recoiled, knocking the wrench from a tripod, cops said.
“Something stupid happened,” said Couto’s brother-in-law Fernando Duarte, 59. “From what we know is he was in Queens working in a manhole, and some kind of tool fell from the top — it was 120-foot-deep hole — hit him in the head and that was it. That’s what we know. That’s all I know.”
The accident occurred at 10:25 a.m. in the vicinity of 31st St., 40th Ave. and Northern Blvd., and Couto died at the scene, police said.
“He was a great guy, good-hearted guy, two kids, family man, hard-working person. It was a tragic accident. It was unexpected,” said Duarte, adding that the victim’s sons are in their 20s.
Born in Lisbon, Portugal, Couto arrived in the United States as a child, said his brother-in-law. He eventually settled in Howell, NJ, with his family.
“He was the kind of guy that at work he was … he was always worried about work,” Duarte said. “Get the job, get the job done, get the job done.”
“His job was it wasn’t hazardous but he worked with big machines, so it’s always a little dangerous there.”
Couto was an employee of New Jersey-based National Water Main Cleaning for more than 20 years, Duarte said. A company representative declined to comment when reached by phone.
Couto was remembered in several social media posts as “the best of the best” and a man who was generous with his professional knowledge.
“Thank you for everything you taught me,” posted Bruno Rocha. “Thank you for always always making sure I was comfortable with what I was doing at work and making sure I knew you where [sic] always there for advice and help you will be missed.”
Duarte said his sister, Couto’s wife, was heartbroken.
“[She is] 55 years old. Paul is [54] years old,” he said. “It’s very unexpected.”
