Crime & Safety
Man Stuck In Drainage Tunnel For '2 Days' Rescued In North Austin
The man told medics he had been lost in the underground tunnel system for 2 days before being rescued on Thursday.
NORTH AUSTIN, TX — Medics on Thursday rescued a man claiming to have been trapped in a North Austin drainage tunnel for two days, officials said.
Austin-Travis County EMS medics responded to the 8400 block of Research Boulevard at around 11:50 a.m. amid reports a person was stuck in a manhole. Upon their arrival, medics learned the man was actually lost within the labyrinthine drainage tunnel system — not just stuck in a manhole or trench — claiming he had been stuck down there for two days.
After about 20 minutes, the man of undisclosed age was extricated from the tunnel system. Medics reported on Twitter the person was conscious and alert at the time of the rescue, but it's unclear if he required hospitalization. His story of being trapped in the subterranean tunnel system for a pair of days had not been officially verified as of late Thursday.
Find out what's happening in North Austin-Pflugervillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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Related story: Man Stuck In Storm Drain Rescued In North Austin
Find out what's happening in North Austin-Pflugervillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
It's the second time in six months that a man has been rescued from a storm drain in North Austin. Medics in July 2019 rushed to the 7900 block of Brockman Street, near the intersection of Burnet Road and Anderson Lane, just before 9:30 a.m. Austin-Travis County EMS medics reported via Twitter a man in his 40s was "out of the hole" after being extricated. The victim, who said he was suffering from "exhaustion," sustained injuries not deemed to be life-threatening, according to medics.
FINAL UPDATE Technical Rescue ~8400blk Research Blvd: #ATCEMSMedics & @AustinFireInfo additional pictures from the scene. pic.twitter.com/5airu6sfsk
— ATCEMS (@ATCEMS) January 23, 2020
FINAL technical rescue ~8400blk Research Blvd: Patient is out of the drainage system. Being evaluated by #ATCEMSMedics. Transport to be determined. No further updates planned. pic.twitter.com/hBeRERkL6i
— ATCEMS (@ATCEMS) January 23, 2020
UPDATE4 Technical Rescue ~8400blk Research Blvd: Search team has made contact with patient & are on the way out with him. ETA to patient extrication 20 minutes. Unknown if patient will be transported to hospital. More information to follow.
— ATCEMS (@ATCEMS) January 23, 2020
UPDATE3 Technical Rescue ~8400blk Research Blvd: Search teams continue to explore the drainage system attempting to make access to the patient. City of Austin Public Works also on way to scene to assist with unknown ETA. More information to follow.
— ATCEMS (@ATCEMS) January 23, 2020
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