South Africans Say a Gauteng Man is Lucky to Be Alive, Rescued From Stormwater Drain After 18 Hours

• A 56-year-old man was finally rescued after 18 long hours after he found himself stuck in a stormwater drain
• The man had been waking on late Sunday night when fell into the manhole in Alberton, in the Gauteng province
• Social media users are questioning whether the manhole had a lid on and highlighted how dangerous removing it can be

JOHANNESBURG - After 18 agonising hours of being trapped in a stormwater drain, a 56-year-old man was finally set free on Monday, 7 February.

The unsuspecting man had been walking late at night in tall grass near N12 freeway just before the Voortrekker Road off-ramp in Alberton, Gauteng on late Sunday night when he fell into the drain.

According to the City of Ekurhuleni Emergency Services spokesperson William Ntladi, the unfortunate accident took place at approximately 10pm.

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Ntladi says the authorities were only alerted on Monday afternoon after a passerby heard the trapped man calling out for assistance, according to News24.

The authorities were quickly dispatched and the man was immediately taken to hospital after being rescued at around 4.30om. According to SowetanLIVE, the man was treated for a leg fracture on his left leg.

South Africans say the man was lucky

@KwaUliwa said:

"Did it not have a manhole cover? This is very dangerous, I hope that those who remove the covers can see what their actions can result in."

@RooiplotHermit said:

"Lucky man!"

@shepherdmpofu said:

"Cut roadside grass...."

@trestrange said:

"Narrowly avoided qualifying for a @mrballen story."

Lifeguards hailed as heroes for helping gogo, 95, onto the beach

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Briefly News previously reported that Dottie Scheider wanted to have a day at the beach and headed out to Orange Beach in Alabama. The 95-year-old woman is wheel-chair bound and soon discovered that she could not navigate through the sands.

The lifeguards soon noticed her dilemma and sprung into action. One of the lifeguards, Shane Martin, carried her to his ATV and drove her down to the beach and placed her into her chair.

Over the following four days, the lifeguards helped Dottie by fetching her from her hotel and taking her down to the beach. Though Dottie tried to reward them, they refused to take tips and said that the smile on her face was all that they needed.

Source: Briefly News