Lucy Devine
A man suffered from what's been called the 'worst death imaginable' after falling down a manhole in New York.
Dr Judy Melinek, who is a former medical examiner, has spoken about some of the worst cases she's ever seen.
In her book, Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner, co-authored with her husband, T.J. Mitchell, Melinek has spoken about some of the most shocking moments of her career.
Explaining that people ask her, 'What’s the worst way to die?', Melinek usually tells them: “You don’t want to know.”
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However, if they push for an answer, she tells them about Sean Doyle.
In a chilling admission, Dr Melinek explained that she suffered from some of the 'worst nightmares [she] ever had' after one specific post-mortem of Doyle.
The devastating incident occurred when Doyle had been out drinking in the city with a friend and his friend's partner in 2002.
An argument started on their way home, in which Doyle's friend accused him of flirting with his girlfriend.
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The pair started fighting, and this resulted in the friend throwing Doyle down a manhole that had an 18-foot drop.
Although Doyle survived the fall with minimal injuries, he was plunged into boiling water, which was the result of a broken mains pipe.
Although emergency services attended, the manhole was filled with steam measuring 300°F.
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After Doyle's body was recovered, Dr Melinek examined him to discover no broken bones or head trauma, but severe burns to his body.
Doyle's body temperature measured 125 degrees (51C). However, Dr Melinek adds the body was likely even hotter, due to the thermometer only reading up to 125 degrees.
The outer layer of his skin had peeled away, while his internal organs were cooked.
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When Dr Melinek saw Doyle, she said she thought he’d 'been steamed like a lobster'.
According to the New York Times, the man who pushed Doyle was later charged with second-degree murder.
"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," said Melinek.
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In her book, the medical examiner also had a warning for people who live alone with their cats and why it might be wise to choose a canine companion instead.
“Your faithful golden retriever might sit next to your dead body for days, starving, but the tabby won’t,” she wrote.
“Your pet cat will eat you right away, with no qualms at all. I’ve seen the result.”