Raymond Feige dies in fatal Upper Manhattan boat explosion
Fatal Upper Manhattan boat explosion death of Raymond Feige – Obituary
Raymond Feige, 59, a longtime engineer with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, lost his life in a tragic incident on the Hudson River Saturday morning when a sewage boat unexpectedly exploded.
The explosion took place at the North River Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility, located near 135th Street in Upper Manhattan. Feige, who served as the chief marine diesel engineer, was thrown into the river as a result of the blast. The force of the explosion caused him to become trapped between the vessel and the pier, according to emergency officials.
Authorities have yet to determine what led to the explosion, and an investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala paid tribute to Feige, describing him as a highly valued team member whose work, though often behind the scenes, played a vital role in keeping New York City functioning. “Ray was a respected engineer and a steady, beloved colleague who will be deeply missed,†Aggarwala said. “We are grateful for his over 30 years of dedicated service.â€
Two other DEP employees who had been working alongside Feige on the vessel were taken to nearby hospitals for medical care following the incident.
At the time of the explosion, the docked vessel had been transporting raw sewage for processing at the facility. Emergency crews responded promptly, launching a rescue effort on the Hudson in the aftermath of the blast.
