A man was successfully rescued from an 18-inch underground drain pipe in Riverside on Saturday, having been trapped for approximately three days, according to the Riverside Police Department.
Authorities were alerted around 11:40 a.m. to a report of an individual inside a drain tunnel crying for help. Riverside Fire Department Division Chief Greg White stated the man was found approximately 20 feet into the pipe and was unable to extricate himself. Captain Steve Hallgreen, public information officer for the department, indicated that the narrow diameter of the pipe likely contributed to the man becoming stuck.
The rescue operation, involving a specialized technical rescue team and necessary equipment, took approximately two hours to complete. Assistance was also requested from Corona Urban Search and Rescue. First responders were observed preparing equipment at the scene, and significant debris had to be cleared from the pipe before the man could be extracted.
Investigators believe the man may have entered the pipe through a canal situated near the train tracks by Commerce and Cottage streets. The pipe runs beneath the surface, parallel to the ground, and drains into the canal. He was ultimately removed through the same entry point.
The rescued individual received initial medical treatment on site for undisclosed injuries before being transported to a local hospital, where he was reported to be in stable condition. The rescue efforts necessitated the temporary closure of the train tracks, which serve multiple lines, by the police department.
Captain Hallgreen commented that calls regarding individuals trapped in pipes are infrequent occurrences for the department.
