Man Endured Horrific Death After Being Thrown Into Manhole And Boiled Alive 'Like A Lobster' While Still Conscious

A tragic story has resurfaced about a man who endured what’s been described as the ‘worst death imaginable’ after being thrown down a manhole in New York City.

Dr. Judy Melinek, a former medical examiner, has publicly spoken about some of the most disturbing and unforgettable cases from her career.

In her memoir, Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner, which she co-wrote with her husband T.J. Mitchell, Melinek recounts in detail some of the cases that have stayed with her long after leaving the autopsy room.

She explained that when people often ask her, “What’s the worst way to die?”, her usual response is: "You don't want to know."

But when pressed to give a real answer, she shares the horrifying case of Sean Doyle.

Melinek confessed that the postmortem examination of Doyle left her with some of the most haunting nightmares she ever experienced in her two years at the Office of Chief Medical Examiner.

The tragic incident happened back in 2002. Doyle had been out for drinks with a friend and the friend’s girlfriend in Manhattan.

On the way home, tensions rose when the friend accused Doyle of making advances toward his girlfriend. The argument escalated into a physical fight.

During the scuffle, Doyle’s friend shoved him into an open manhole, sending him plummeting 18 feet below the street.

Doyle fell down a manhole in New York Getty Stock Photo

Doyle survived the fall itself, suffering only minor injuries, but he landed in scalding hot water from a ruptured steam pipe.

By the time emergency crews arrived, the manhole was filled with steam as hot as 300°F, making a rescue nearly impossible.

When his body was finally recovered, Dr. Melinek found no broken bones or head trauma, but instead catastrophic burns covering his entire body.

Dr Judy Melinek detailed one particularly horrific case Instagram/@drjudymelinek

His internal body temperature measured 125°F, though Melinek explained that it was likely even higher since the thermometer maxed out at that reading.

The top layers of his skin had peeled away, and his internal organs showed signs of having been cooked by the heat.

Dr. Melinek later admitted the scene was so shocking that her first thought was Doyle had been “steamed like a lobster.”

According to reports from The New York Times, Doyle’s friend was ultimately charged with second-degree murder for his role in the death.

"The worst nightmares I ever had in my two years at OCME (Office of Chief Medical Examiner) came after I performed the postmortem examination of Sean Doyle," Melinek recalled.

She also used her book to share a grim piece of advice for pet owners, especially those living alone, highlighting a surprising difference between cats and dogs when it comes to human companionship after death.

Emergency services couldn't reach Doyle for four hours Getty Stock Photo

"Your faithful golden retriever might sit next to your dead body for days, starving, but the tabby won't," she explained in the book.

"Your pet cat will eat you right away, with no qualms at all. I've seen the result."