Woman Rescued After Falling into Manhole and Spending Night Trapped Inside

Mar. 15, 2025

Firefighters rescued a woman who was trapped in a manhole in San Bernardino, California, on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024.Photo:San Bernardino County Fire

San Bernardino County Fire

In a news release posted on Facebook,San Bernardino County Firewas notified around 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20, about a woman who fell into the manhole located at 295 Carousel Mall.

The first fire engine that arrived at the scene confirmed the woman was trapped inside, according to the department, and preparations for the rescue operation began with using a 100-foot aerial ladder.

“The Urban Search & Rescue team arrived and assisted in completing set up of a high point rope rescue system,” said San Bernardino County Fire in the news release. “A rescuer was lowered down to the patient to assess for injuries and begin treatment.  The patient was then placed into a rescue harness and raised to safety.”

“The patient was suffering from multiple musculoskeletal injuries and transported to a local trauma center with moderate condition,” the department added.

The rescue operation, which was recorded on video and posted on San Bernardino County Fire’s Facebook page, took about 90 minutes. No firefighters were injured, the department added.

The manhole is located on the site of what was once the Carousel Mall, CW affiliateKTLAreported. The mall,which was constructed in the 1970s, shut down in 2017 and was demolished six years later. ABC affiliateKABCreported that the site will be redeveloped for affordable housing and commercial and office buildings.

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“Crews from the San Bernardino Municipal Water Department remained on-scene until the man-hole was secured,” the department concluded its statement.

source: people.com