Fireman in Hawaii Got Sucked Into Storm Drain and Dragged 2,400ft Under Water

Strong floodwaters on the Hawaiian island of Maui carried a firefighter into a storm drain and dragged him thousands of feet.

(Photo : Image by Kyle Gransaull from Pixabay )

A Very Unfortunate Incident

The man was trying to clean out a 4-foot-wide storm drain in Kihei on Friday when he got sucked down it. The sewer was then used to drag him 800 yards until it reached the sea.

According to Mahina Martin, chief of Communications and Public Affairs for Maui County, "there were crews from our county public works there as well, who were able to provide quick information on what the path for the drain was, and where eventually anything flowing through the storm drain, would end up."

Because of this, the fire crews and other emergency professionals from our company were able to reach the scene quickly, find the missing firefighter, and rescue him while requesting immediate medical assistance.

Quick Response

When the firefighter was retrieved from the drain's opposite end, he was not breathing. CPR was given until he was revived, at which point he was transferred to the Maui Memorial Medical Center.

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Dangerous Flood Water

Water from a flood can be quite dangerous. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 6 inches of rushing water is all it takes to knock you off your feet.

National Weather Service meteorologist Tom Birchard warned local TV station KHON that if you go to the shore break, let's say on the north shore, and the water is this deep and sweeping across the sand; it will knock you off your feet. Therefore, you or an automobile could be damaged in the same way by fresh water flowing through a stream or a road.

With an average of roughly 90 fatalities each year, flash flooding is the most common weather-related cause of death in the United States. 146 persons lost their lives to floods nationwide in 2021 alone.

Due to the recent severe rainfall-up to 13 inches fell on some areas of the island-Maui has experienced significant flooding. Due to its low-lying height and location along Maui's coastline, Kihei, where the firefighter was dragged into the drain, is particularly susceptible to floods.

Flash flooding is likely to stay high as more rain is predicted over the upcoming days.

The National Weather Service issued a flood alert warning, saying there was a "threat for significant rainfall tonight through Monday." "Flooding has already occurred in several sections of Maui County, and any additional precipitation will cause low-lying regions to flooding swiftly."

Current Condition

The firefighter's condition is critical, and they are still hospitalized.

We are focused on supporting the firefighter's family and ask that our community join us in prayers for his recovery, Martin said in a statement. "Fire Chief Brad Ventura and Mayor Richard Bissen, Jr., immediately went to the hospital's emergency room this afternoon to offer support to firefighters and family members who were there," Martin said in the statement.