The victim was discovered in the area beneath the iconic span connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn, according to the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. His identity has not been released pending family notification.
The deaths have occurred across all five boroughs since the arctic blast began last week, with temperatures plunging well below freezing and wind chills making conditions even more dangerous. Most victims were found in outdoor locations or in buildings without adequate heating.
“Every one of these deaths represents a person who mattered, someone’s family member or friend,” said Dr. Ashwin Vasan, the city’s health commissioner. “We’re working around the clock with our partners to get people into warm, safe spaces.”
The city has opened additional warming centers in response to the crisis, including emergency shelters in community centers, libraries, and school gymnasiums from the Bronx to Staten Island. Outreach teams have been deployed to areas where homeless New Yorkers typically seek shelter, including subway stations, building alcoves, and under bridges.
Mayor Eric Adams activated the city’s Code Blue protocol, which requires shelters to accept anyone seeking refuge regardless of capacity. The Department of Homeless Services reported that shelter occupancy has reached near-record levels as people seek protection from the bitter cold.
“No one should be sleeping outside in these conditions,” said Gary Jenkins, the city’s homeless services commissioner. “Our teams are out there day and night, but we need people to call 311 if they see someone who needs help.”
The victims have ranged in age from their 40s to their 80s, with several found in the Bronx and Brooklyn. At least three deaths occurred in Manhattan, including the latest fatality near the Manhattan Bridge.
Advocates for homeless New Yorkers said the deaths highlight the ongoing crisis of street homelessness in the city, where hundreds of people sleep outdoors even during extreme weather events.
“These are preventable tragedies,” said Jacquelyn Simone of the Coalition for the Homeless. “The city needs year-round solutions, not just emergency responses when the temperature drops.”
Temperatures are expected to remain below freezing through the weekend, with another potential storm system approaching early next week.
