Dad killed in Georgia manhole fall before wedding

July 18, 2023

A 34-year-old Georgia father of four was killed when he fell into a manhole while on his plumbing job – just months before he planned to marry his fiancée.

Robert Hall slipped and fell Wednesday about 20 feet off a ladder and into the maintenance hole at Armuchee High School in Rome, Georgia, WSB-TV reported.

It took rescuers almost 45 minutes to pull Hall out due to the methane gas.

They could not revive the unconscious man, his future father-in-law, John Burtz told Atlanta News First.

Hall leaves behind his fiancée Melina Rich and four young kids — his oldest son, Rylon, who lives with his mom, and Leanna, Anniston and Weston, according to a GoFundMe page.

“He worked hard every day to provide for his family,” Burtz told Atlanta News First. “They were getting married in October and had everything set. They were getting ready for a long and happy future.”

Robert Hall, his fiancee Melina Rich and his kids. — Robert Hall , 34, a father of four from Georgia, died after he fell into a manhole on his plumbing job — just months before his planned wedding to Melina Rich, left.

Hall’s 8-year-old daughter Leeannahh remembered her dad as simply “the best.”

“He came home every day with a smile on his face,” she told WSB-TV.

Hall’s sister, Kari Hall, said: “It hurts so bad to know that he’s not with us anymore. He loved his family. He loved his fiancee. He loved (her) with every bit of his soul.”

Robert Hall and his fiancee Melina Rich — The couple had already sent out invitations to their October nuptials.

The family is seeking answers about the tragedy.

“It don’t make sense to me why it takes so long to get down there when you should have been prepared for anything like that,” Kari told WSB, adding that the methane gas in the sewer lines may have contributed to his death.

“You know that stuff is awful. It’ll kill you. I feel like maybe that’s what got him,” she said.

Another sister, Roby Hames, said the couple had already paid for the wedding venue and the caterers.

Robert Hall, his fiancee Melina Rich and three of his children — Hall, Rich and three of his kids in an undated photo.

“They have already started their life together. They wanted to make it official,” she told the outlet.

Floyd County Schools Superintendent Glenn White offered his condolences.

“This accident has impacted our school system family and stakeholders in many ways and we are actively sending support to those directly affected by this,” he said in a statement.

“During this time, we have extended our deepest sympathies and condolences to the family. We also understand this is a difficult time for the company who lost this employee, and we would like to extend our thoughts to them and anyone else who knew and loved this individual,” White added.