Man Who Fell Into Orland Park Sewer: "I'm About 12 Feet Below The Ground"
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Calls for help from at least 12 feet below ground; authorities have released the audio from a call to 911 made by a man who fell through a manhole into a sewer in the south suburbs on Saturday evening.
When the man named Steve was walking along Harlem Avenue - somewhere between 143rd and 151st Street - he fell into a sewer.
Fortunately, he had his cell phone - and called 911.
OPERATOR: "OK, so nobody can see you waving your hands in the street, right?"
STEVE: "Pardon me?"
OPERATOR: "They can't see you waving your hands, or anything, right? You're completely in the sewer?"
STEVE: "Oh, there's no way you could see me wave my hands, because I'm about 12 feet below..."
OPERATOR: "You're below…"
STEVE "I'm about 12 feet below the ground."
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The operator told Steve to listen for sirens, and to call out for help, so rescuers would be able to hear where he is in the darkness of a Saturday evening.
At first, he heard nothing.
STEVE: "OK, now I hear them coming closer. Hello! The fact that I can move my leg, is that a good sign that it's not broken?"
OPERATOR: "Are you in pain? But try not to move it, though."
STEVE: "Yeah, I'm in a little pain, but I think it's more shock now."
OPERATOR: "Well, don't try to move it any more. Just let them … try to stand still, OK?"
STEVE: "OK, OK, OK."
OPERATOR: "They're almost there."
Crews with the Orland Fire Protection District did get him out.
Three days after the ordeal, Steve told WBBM, "By the grace of God, I'm doing all right."
