Tulsa firefighters free naked man trapped in storm sewer
BY ZACK STOYCOFF World Staff Writer
Thursday, August 16, 2012
8/16/12 at 5:37 AM
A naked man was pulled from a storm sewer on Tuesday after having crawled in it several days earlier and become trapped, firefighters said.
A passer-by heard the man calling for help through an opening in a parking lot near the Walmart Supercenter at 2019 E. 81st St. shortly before 3 p.m., Tulsa Fire Department spokesman Stan May said.
Firefighters had to crawl inside the sewer to rescue the 53-year-old man, who had already given up calling for help at that opening and was on his way to another, May said.
The man was pulled out about 3:45 p.m. and was taken to St. Francis Hospital to be treated for weakness and dehydration.
"He was in relatively good health, but he hadn't had a meal in quite awhile," May said.
The man apparently had crawled into the sewer from an opening in a large concrete drainage ditch about a quarter-mile west, May said.
The ditch drains into the Arkansas River near the River Spirit Casino at 8330 Riverside Parkway.
The man told authorities he had been in the sewer for several days, but it was unclear when or why he crawled in, May said.
Authorities did not know whether he was homeless, May said.
Decomposing debris can release carbon monoxide and other poisonous gases in storm sewers, so workers and emergency crews must check the air quality before entering them, May said.
The man had no protection from any gases, May said. He also could have drowned in runoff from showers that began later Tuesday, he said.
"Those storm drains can fill up rather quickly," May said.
Original Print Headline: Naked man trapped in storm sewer is freed by firefighters
Zack Stoycoff 918-581-8486
zack.stoycoff@tulsaworld.com
