“Tragic Gas Tank Incident Claims Lives of Delvys Garcia, Denise Martinez, and Noel Vigil-Benitez”

Three people died in Elgin, Texas, after falling into a gas-filled cistern tank partially filled with water. One victim jumped in to rescue a dog, and two others followed to help. A fourth person called for assistance. The victims, identified as Delvys Garcia, Denise Martinez, and Noel Vigil-Benitez, were from Florida. The recovery effort took several hours due to fumes and the instability of the cistern. Crispz reported

Authorities from the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office have reported a tragic incident in Elgin, Texas, where three individuals lost their lives after accidentally falling into a cistern tank filled with harmful gas and partially submerged in water.

According to the police, it is believed that one of the victims entered the underground tank in an attempt to rescue a dog that had fallen inside. Two others then followed, attempting to assist in the rescue efforts of the initial person who had jumped in.

Meanwhile, a fourth person made the decision to return to their vehicle in order to call emergency services for assistance.

Regrettably, all three individuals, along with the dog, perished in the incident. The victims have been identified as Delvys Garcia (37), Denise Martinez (26), and Noel Vigil-Benitez (45). All three were residents of Florida.

Bastrop County Sheriff Maurice Cook stated, “The water level is approximately eight feet below ground level. Consequently, the individual was trapped in a hole, submerged in water containing hydrogen sulfide gas.”

“Our hypothesis is that the victims were overwhelmed by the hydrogen sulfide gas, rendering them unable to stay afloat on the water’s surface. As a result, they sank beneath it,” Cook explained.

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According to the authorities, the group had been engaged in hog hunting at 1 a.m. local time on Wednesday when the unfortunate incident occurred. The recovery operation, which posed significant challenges due to the strong fumes and instability of the cistern, was successfully concluded by 7:30 p.m. the same day.

Officials have noted that the exposed cistern contained stagnant water and emitted fumes similar to those found in a septic tank.

“The fumes, the stagnant water, and the structural instability hindered the rescue efforts and initially prevented the first responders from entering the man-made structure,” the authorities stated.

“After deliberation, it was decided to ventilate the cistern by eliminating the hydrogen sulfide gas and subsequently draining the water. However, concerns regarding the structural integrity led to the abandonment of efforts to access the bodies from the side. Any attempt to breach the walls from the side would have compromised the structure’s stability and jeopardized the safety of those involved,” the statement added.

Investigator David Newman, who volunteered for the recovery operation, played a crucial role in retrieving the bodies of the hunters and the dog. The Elgin Fire Department and City of Elgin utility crews also provided assistance in the recovery efforts.

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