Loving Husband, Father Dies After Falling Off Ladder At Work

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — After a beloved husband father died after falling off a ladder at work, a heartbroken community is struggling to make sense of the tragedy.

Friends have joined hands and hearts to help his wife and daughter, organizing a GoFundMe, "Fernando Villalva Memorial Fund," which has raised $4,800 of its $30,000 goal so far.

Fernando Villalva, a son, husband and father, passed away on Friday, Nov. 3, the page says.

"Fernando, who was a loving, kind, humble, and very happy individual left this world, but his spirit and soul remains in the heart of all of those who loved and cared for him," the page's organizer Maria Gomez wrote. "Karol Acosta, his wife, and Brianna Villalva, his daughter, are going through a difficult and unbearable path right now. Fernando was the head of the household, always caring for the wellness of his family and looking after his most precious treasure, which was his amazing daughter and wife. Now that he is not among us anymore I feel obligated for the love I have toward my family to keep doing what he has been doing his whole life, which was to look after his family and to try and accomplish a dream he started."

Her initial goal, she said, was to help the family while he was hospitalized but after his death the goal is to support his family during their time of great need.

"Today or tonight we ask that you pray in the loving memory of Fernando, who was an average guy doing his job as a carpenter, looking after his family and making the American Dream come true for his family and the ones he loved," she said.

His dreams ended on Nov. 2 when Villalva had an accident at work, falling of a ladder from the second story. He was airlifted to the hospital, and needed surgery due to a shattered spleen and severe internal bleeding, Gomez said.

During surgery, he went into cardiac arrest and then fell into a coma; he also had blood transfusions and was receiving medication, Gomez said.

"The doctors only gave him a few hours to live. Fernando surpassed that and went beyond and started opening his eyes and squeezing our hands. Fernando made it through the whole night surrounded by many family and friends. In the morning we saw him start to get weak and by 8 a.m. he could not breathe and passed away. He fought for his life until his last breath," she said.

"He was an amazing warrior and did not give up so easy his life. God knows he took with him a real soldier. We just thank God for giving us a chance to see, speak and and hold him for one last time and say good-bye. Fernando was a fighter, the bravest person I knew. He leaves his loving wife and daughter, Karol and Brianna with pain we can’t even imagine. Fernando was a loving, strong, caring, one of a kind and special man with a huge heart and smile. He was a great husband and an amazing father," she said.

Those who cannot help with funds are asked to say a prayer in his memory, Gomez said.

To donate, click here.

Photo courtesy GoFundMe.