A man was rescued after spending two days trapped in a pipe the width of a pizza more than 4 meters underground

More than 50 people were needed in the rescue operation in the San Francisco area, California

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A man who was trapped 4.5 meters underground for two days in a sewer in the San Francisco Bay Area (California, USA) was rescued thanks to a two-hour operation involving at least 50 firefighters, police and rescue personnel.

According to the authorities, the man was released from the 40-centimeter wide pipe, little more than a large pizza, at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, and although he remained alive, he was in a high degree of dehydration.

“When we finally pulled it off the ground, it was more than lush. I was more than happy to be on the surface,” Steve Hill, spokesman for the Contra Costa County fire protection district, told local media.

The man in his 30s was not injured, but as he showed signs of dehydration he was taken to a hospital for evaluation.

Hill said that the man intentionally entered the extensive stormwater system and at one point reached the area of the narrow pipe and got stuck.

“I couldn't get through and I couldn't go back,” he said.

The man told officials that he had been trapped for about two days before passers-by heard his screams and called 911.

A man was rescued alive but dehydrated after two days of being trapped in a pipe “the width of a pizza”
It took at least 50 people to rescue him, including police, firefighters, and rescue personnel.

“Somehow, people who were passing on a trail some distance from the stormwater system managed to hear their cries for help. That's pretty miraculous because it was quite windy,” Hill said.

The risky rescue operation involved four firefighters and a rescue team who entered the underground space near Buchanan Road in Antioch from two directions. Rescuers had to remove tree branches, garbage and other debris to get to the man, the spokesman said.

To guide them, they constantly established communication with the trapped man, who was conscious and answered the calls of rescue personnel until they managed to release him.

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