Emergency crews rescued a man who became trapped beneath a manhole in Northeast Philadelphia after he reportedly entered an underground utility system and was unable to find his way back to the surface.
The rescue operation took place on Wednesday afternoon in the 8500 block of Bustleton Avenue and lasted for more than 30 minutes, according to the 7th Police District Advisory Council.
Man Unable to Find His Way Out
Officials said the man had entered the underground system several blocks away before becoming lost beneath the streets.
Unable to locate an exit, he remained trapped underground until emergency responders were called to the scene.
Authorities have not yet explained why the man entered the underground system or how long he had been beneath the surface before help arrived.
Firefighters Called to Rescue
Philadelphia firefighters were the first to respond to the incident and attempted to rescue the trapped man.
However, crews were initially unable to remove the heavy manhole cover needed to reach him.
Because of the difficulty, firefighters requested assistance from the Philadelphia Water Department.
Water Department Helps Complete Rescue
Workers from the Philadelphia Water Department arrived at the scene with the equipment needed to remove the manhole cover.
Once the cover was successfully opened, rescue crews were able to safely free the man from the underground system.
Officials confirmed that the rescue was completed without further complications.
Investigation Continues
Authorities have not released the man’s identity or provided information about his condition following the rescue.
It also remains unclear why he entered the underground utility system in the first place.
Officials are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the unusual incident.
