A man who became trapped underground for 36 hours after falling down a storm drain refused to be helped a day before he was rescued.
The Southern Downs man, 34, spent 36 hours lost in the inner city drain network of Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, while trying to retrieve his phone over the weekend.
He was finally rescued when local resident James Lingwood heard heavy breathing around 11am on Monday and called emergency services.
Fire crews at the scene were able to cut the drain and pull the man to safety.
Mr Lingwood explained he had heard the man ‘sort of half yelling’ on the phone while jogging past the storm drain on Sunday.
A 34-year-old man has been rescued from a storm water drain in Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, after spending 36 hours trapped in the underground network
The concerned neighbour offered to help the man get out of the drain but he declined, and insisted he could find his way out.
‘He’s looking up and he’s going, “Hey man”. I said, “Are you okay? Can I help you?” He said, “No, bro, I’m all good” but he’s knee deep in water and I’m thinking what do I do?’ Mr Lingwood told the Courier Mail.
‘But he seemed to be okay and he said he could get out where he got in so I just left him alone.
‘I wanted to help him when I first saw him, but he didn’t want my help. I don’t think he thought he was in any great danger at the time.’
Mr Lingwood decided to call triple-0 on Monday after he heard heavy breathing as if ‘someone was in distress’.
The man told emergency services he drank rainwater to survive and spent most of his time in the drain crawling around on his hands and knees.
The man was taken to Mater Hospital (pictured) where he was treated for hypothermia and some cuts and abrasions
He told rescuers he spent most of the 36-hour ordeal partially submerged in water and had to wade through surges of storm water while searching for an escape.
He was rushed to the Mater Hospital in the city’s south where he was treated for hypothermia and some cuts and abrasions.
When the man finally found an opening, he screamed for help, attracting the attention of a local resident and an employee in a nearby building.
The employee said the man had been ‘running around everywhere down there’ and was not sure if he was laying down or if he could stand up when he was rescued.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Queensland Police for comment.
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