Residents on Hale Aloha Way in Ceres awoke to the sound of a man
screaming early Thursday morning and went outside to find him
lodged headfirst in a storm drain.
Ceres firefighters responded to the 2200 block of Hale Aloha at
about 2:30 a.m. and saw a 21-year-old man in the 18-inch diameter
storm drain; only his calves and feet were visible, according to
Ceres Battalion Chief Mike Lillie.
The man, identified as Jared Medeiros, of Ceres, was conscious
and alert but reported having difficulty breathing.
Medeiros, who was intoxicated, told firefighters he had dropped
some of his personal belongings through the grate that covered the
drain, Lillie said. He had removed the grate and, while attempting
to reach his belongings, fell in.
Medeiros was trapped there for about 40 minutes before
firefighters arrived.
Lillie said firefighters fastened rescue webbing around the
Medeiros' waist and legs and were able to pull him out within 13
minutes of arriving on scene.
Firefighters retrieved the Medeiros' keys, cell phone, and some
cash from the storm drain.
Medeiros sustained scrapes and bruises but refused medical
attention, Lillie said.