Family is searching for answers after a worker dies following an incident at the Hillsborough County Water Department

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – A family is grieving and desperate for answers after their loved one died while working at the Hillsborough County Wastewater Department.

According to his family, Paul Hardy was working at the Hillsborough County Wastewater Department on Feb. 7 when a piece of machinery fell on him and broke his right leg. He had to undergo surgery immediately. A month later, on March 12, Hardy died.

The healthy 49-year-old was a mentor, coach and family man, his relatives said.

“Paul loved his family, his mother and his children. He lived a life that supported a character that his children would in time recognize as sincere. “I was and still am very proud of my son and miss him very much,” said his mother Denise Allen.

Allen said Hillsborough County is keeping quiet about Hardy’s death at the county water department site.

“This is currently a pending workers’ compensation case and we cannot answer any questions at this time,” said José Patiño, a district spokesman, when asked for comment.

Per Risk Management’s policy, Patiño said the county does not answer questions about pending workers’ compensation cases, adding that doing so is lawful, prudent and falls under public records law exemptions.

Patiño said the incident report was not available because the medical examiner did not determine a cause of death.

Every day, Hardy’s family continues to grieve and search for answers. They told 8 On Your Side that the only thing that keeps them going is their faith.