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Three hog hunters from Florida, identified as Denise Martinez, Delvys Garcia, and Noel Vigil-Benitez, were found dead in an underground cistern in Texas. They had attempted to rescue a trapped dog, but all tragically lost their lives. The bodies were recovered from the cistern, which contained noxious sewer gas. An autopsy has been ordered, and an investigation is ongoing to determine the events leading up to the incident. HIS Education reported
Three individuals, identified as Denise Martinez, Delvys Garcia, and Noel Vigil-Benitez, all hailing from South Florida, tragically lost their lives in an underground cistern in Texas. The incident occurred when the group, who were part of a hog hunting party, attempted to rescue their dog, which had fallen into the cistern. Regrettably, the dog did not survive the ordeal.
The lifeless bodies of the three victims, along with their deceased canine companion, were discovered in a noxious sewer gas-filled underground tank located in a cornfield near Elgin, Texas. Initial investigations by the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office revealed that the cistern, partially filled with water, emitted strong fumes akin to those of a septic tank. Sadly, there were no signs of life upon the arrival of the first responders.
Upon completion of an autopsy, the bodies were transported to the medical examiner’s office, accompanied by the dog, all handled by a local funeral home. According to Bastrop County Sheriff Maurice Cook, the tragedy unfolded around 1 a.m. when one of the victims endeavored to rescue the fallen bloodhound, prompting the other two individuals to jump into the hole in a valiant effort to aid their companion and the dog.
A fourth member of the hunting party, an unidentified man, refrained from entering the cistern, opting instead to call 911 from the hunting truck. Underground cisterns are typically employed for rainwater collection and well water storage. Sheriff Cook disclosed that the opening of the hole into which the victims fell measured approximately 4 feet in width and contained 8 feet of water, accompanied by hydrogen sulfide gas.
The water level inside the cistern was significantly lower than the ground-level opening, effectively trapping the victims and leading to their unfortunate demise. Recovery efforts were hindered by the noxious fumes, stagnant water, and the instability of the cistern. Consequently, the decision was made to ventilate the cistern by eliminating the hydrogen sulfide gas and subsequently draining the water.
Initial plans to dig beside the cistern for side access were abandoned due to concerns that such action could weaken the structure and jeopardize safety. After successfully removing the fumes and water, and stabilizing the air within the cistern with the assistance of local fire and utility crews, a drone was deployed to assess the stability of the underground walls. Subsequently, a member of the sheriff’s office was carefully lowered into the cistern, successfully retrieving the three bodies and the bloodhound.
The investigation into the circumstances leading up to the victims’ presence in the cistern is still ongoing, with the aim of verifying the initial details..
