A Houston man has been rescued after being trapped in a garbage truck. According to firefighters, the man was apparently in a dumpster when he was put into the truck by unknowing workers.
As reported by People, the incident occurred in the early hours of Friday, May 29. Firefighter crews responded to a call from a garbage truck driver who claimed there was someone in the back of her truck.
The man had apparently started screaming for help while inside the truck. He shouted at her to call 911 and that his legs were injured. He was also "rolling around" in the hopper, which is the part that receives the waste and starts the compaction process. Crews arrived at around 3:49am local time.
The firefighters explained that the man was still conscious during the rescue efforts. They used an aerial ladder as well as a Stokes basket before managing to put the man on a stretcher. He apparently only suffered a broken leg from the incident.
Authorities still aren't sure why the man was in the dumpster. It appeared to only contain recyclables, and did not have any valuables inside.
Houston Fire Department Senior Captian Bryan Zaharias said that part of the situation made things easier on the fire crew. "Very fortunate for us he was laying in recyclables, not food or anything like that," he explained.
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This Isn't the First Time This Has Happened With a Garbage Truck
But this isn't the first time this has happened. As we reported back when it happened back in April, a Kentucky woman died following being "squeezed" by a garbage truck claw.
The victim was identified as 35-year-old Tyrah Adams. She was reportedly picked up by a hydraulic claw whilst sanitation workers were clearing an alley.
Louisville mayor Craig Greenberg said that Adams originally managed to pick herself back up. But upon moving away from where she had been injured, she collapsed.
He explained in a statement, "She ultimately died and that is certainly a tragic loss. It appears to be a tragic accident to lose someone in our city this way,"
