Woman seconds from death after falling into bin and being dumped in trash truck

01 February 2024 , 16:50

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The woman was rescued by firefighters (Image: WMUR)

A 60-year-old woman suffered serious injuries after the bin she fell in while throwing out the rubbish was loaded onto a trash truck.

Authorities in Manchester, New Hampshire, said the truck picked up the bin at 1pm on Monday without knowing someone was trapped inside. The woman, stuck amid the rubbish, was dumped into the hopper at the back of the truck and survived as the waste was compacted four times.

Neighbours said they heard her screaming and the driver saw her thanks to a camera inside the truck. At that point, he called 911, the Manchester Fire Department said in a news release.

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Trash was compacted at least four times before the driver spotted the woman (WMUR)

First responders rushed to the scene and began an emergency rescue operation to remove the woman from the dumpster. According to the press release, the woman was rescued after firefighters entered the trash truck through the roof and used a basket attached to a fire truck crane to pull her out.

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By that point, the woman, who has not been identified, was "standing/talking/yelling, but was not alert enough to answer questions," the news release said. The woman was then rushed to Elliot Hospital in critical condition, authorities said.

Rescuers at the scene after being called by the truck driver (WMUR)

Neighbours said the woman is a 60-year-old fellow resident. Neighbour Amanda Czzowitz told Boston 25 News: "All you heard was screaming. She was in agony." Matthew Czzowitz added: "My kids are home from school, and they're watching. I was like, girls, once you see her come out, I don't want you watching."

Battalion Chief Bob Beaudet from the Manchester Fire Department said it is not clear how long the woman had been in the trash bin but she told investigators she had fallen in while dumping the rubbish. Mr Beaudet told WMUR-TV: "In 32 years, I've never seen anything like this my whole career.

It is not clear how the woman fell into the rubbish bin (WMUR)

"It's alarming, because you don't really think it's true. You don't think it really happens, but in this day and age, times are tough, and people do different things. So, that was definitely one for the books."

It is unclear how the woman fell in the bin or how long she had been in there before the lorry arrived. Ryan Cashin, Manchester fire chief, told NBC Boston: "I have never seen one like this."

Chiara Fiorillo