Three hog hunters from Florida tragically died in an underground tank filled with sewer gas in Texas. The incident occurred when one of the hunters tried to rescue their dog, followed by the other two jumping in to save them. The bodies of the hunters and the dog were recovered from the tank. Authorities believe that hydrogen sulfide gas in the hole caused the hunters to be overcome and sink to the bottom. The victims have been identified as Delvys Garcia, Denise Martinez, and Noel Vigil-Benitez. https://www.wistv.com reported
In Austin, Texas, tragedy struck as three hog hunters from Florida lost their lives in a distressing incident involving an underground tank filled with sewer gas. It appears that their loyal dog fell into the hole, prompting one of the hunters to bravely attempt a rescue. Unfortunately, this act of heroism led to a chain of events that resulted in all three hunters, as well as their faithful canine companion, perishing in the tank.
The grim discovery took place in a cornfield on the outskirts of Austin, where the bodies of two men and a woman, along with their dog, were recovered from the tank. Bastrop County Sheriff Maurice Cook revealed that the hole was actually a cistern, measuring approximately 4 feet wide, and contained 8 feet of water, alongside hydrogen sulfide gas.
Sheriff Cook recounted that the tragic sequence of events unfolded in the early hours of Wednesday night when one of the men ventured into the cistern to rescue their bloodhound. Curiously, the clothing and boots belonging to the other two hunters were found near the hole, suggesting they had deliberately shed their attire before also plunging into the tank.
Authorities believe that the hunters were overcome by the highly toxic hydrogen sulfide gas in the hole, causing them to lose consciousness and sink to the bottom. Shockingly, the cistern lacked any form of cover, leaving it as nothing more than an exposed opening in the middle of the cornfield.
The victims have been identified as Delvys Garcia, aged 37, Denise Martinez, aged 26, and Noel Vigil-Benitez, aged 45. All three hailed from Florida. Sheriff Cook emphasized that the cistern contained an alarmingly “high level” of hydrogen sulfide, which could prove lethal due to stagnant water and the decomposition of other animals that had previously met their demise in the tank.
Interestingly, a fourth member of the hunting party, a Texan resident, refrained from entering the hole. This individual informed the authorities that the dog had escaped from their truck, prompting them to employ a tracking device attached to the canine’s collar.
Efforts to retrieve the bodies were hindered by concerns from dive teams regarding the dangerous gas present in the tank, as well as the structural integrity of its walls. The sheriff’s office described the tank as emanating “strong fumes, similar to those of a septic tank.”.
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