Emergency crews in Summit County successfully rescued a man who had been trapped in a stormwater drainage pipe for more than 12 hours in the Village of Clinton.
The dramatic rescue operation occurred in the area of North 4th Avenue and North 1st Street after an anonymous 911 caller reported hearing moaning sounds coming from inside the pipe.
Authorities identified the man as a 48-year-old who had crawled approximately 450 feet into the underground drainage system. The 5-foot, 11-inch tall man navigated through both 24-inch and 18-inch diameter pipes before becoming stuck in the narrower section.
Emergency responders and fire crews from multiple jurisdictions, including Green and Clinton, coordinated the complex rescue operation. Crews employed various specialized equipment including a backhoe and sledgehammers to dig around and breach the pipe. Rescuers utilized a camera from Green’s Road Department to precisely locate the trapped man.
“This was an extremely challenging rescue operation requiring coordination between multiple departments,” said a spokesperson from the emergency response team. “The confined space and depth of the pipe system created significant obstacles for our rescue personnel.”
After working through the night, rescue crews finally freed the man shortly after 4 a.m. Tuesday. Upon extraction, he was alert and communicative. He was transported to Summa Akron City Hospital in stable condition for evaluation and treatment.
Authorities have not determined what prompted the man to enter the drainage system. Police noted that the individual has an outstanding felony domestic violence warrant.
The rescue highlights the dangers of entering confined underground spaces and the specialized training required by first responders for these types of emergency situations.
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