52°
Western Berks Water Authority employee Cody Gipprich, 38, of Shillington, was doing routine work in a constructed pit with a colleague on Cambridge Avenue near Meadow Lane around 8:30 a.m. in Wyomissing on Wednesday, WFMZ reports.
At some point, a pipe or valve failed, causing high-pressure water to shoot out on Gipprich, the outlet reports.
Gipprich's coworkers and bystanders rushed to help him before crews pulled his body from the narrow pit, approximately 8 feet deep, the WFMZ says.
A GoFundMe campaign was launched for Gipprich's wife, Jamie, and had raised more than $26,500 as of Friday.
"Jami and Cody were one of those couples you just knew God put on this earth to be together," reads the campaign, launched by a group of friends. "Now she is faced with living her life without him."
Condolences poured in.
The incident briefly disrupted water service in Shillington, West Reading, Wyomissing, and Bern Township.
Click here to follow Daily Voice West Chester and receive free news updates.
