In an incident in Bastrop County, Texas, three hunters lost their lives as they attempted to rescue a dog that had fallen into an underground cistern.
The hunting group had gathered for a hog hunting expedition when their dog wandered into a cornfield.
The dog fell into a hole leading to an underground water tank, prompting Delvys Garcia, 37, Denise Martinez, 26, and Noel Vigil-Benitez, 45, to engage in rescue efforts.
Bastrop County Sheriff Maurice Cook addressed the media, giving details about the situation. After responding to an early morning call, the sheriff’s office discovered the three trapped in the cistern. Strong fumes, similar to those from a septic tank, were being emitted and there were no signs of life.
One of the victims entered the cistern at first to rescue the dog, and the others followed suit, seemingly attempting to assist their companions. With the water level low and no apparent escape route, their efforts took a fatal turn.
The recovery operation encountered obstacles due to emissions of toxic hydrogen gas and concerns about the structure’s stability. Following the ventilation of the cistern and the deployment of a drone for assessment, responders entered the cistern and successfully retrieved the bodies of the victims and the dog by evening.
The property, privately owned and without a disclosed owner, housed the cistern where the incident occurred. The exact causes of the deaths will be established through an autopsy.
