By Tuan Nguyen and Amy Zimmer
DNAinfo Staff
QUEENS — A worker fell into a grave during a funeral at an historic Middle Village cemetery Monday afternoon, injuring his legs, FDNY officials said.
A 49-year-old worker fell into a grave at Lutheran All Faiths Cemetery, at 67-29 Metropolitan Ave., while he was lowering a casket down the hole during a funeral, the cemetery's vice president, Drew Nelson said.
After falling on top of the casket, the worker was transported to Elmhurst Hospital, according to the FDNY, which said the unidentified man broke both his legs.
But Nelson said the worker, who has been tending the cemetery for 26 years, wasn't injured too badly.
It was "probably a sprained or broken knee," Nelson said. "He was removing the strap from the casket at that time. Thank God it's not serious."
Nelson said an investigation into the accident's cause was ongoing.
The 225-acre cemetery, which was established in 1852, is the final resting place for more than 540,000 New Yorkers, according to All Faiths' website. It has been featured in many television shows and movies, including "Rosemary's Baby," "NYPD Blue" and "The Sopranos," its website said.
