Firefighters rescue man from drainpipe under Battlefield Parkway
UPDATE:
April 17, 2024, 12:49 a.m.
CATOOSA COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) — Catoosa and Walker County firefighters finally freed the man who was stuck in a storm drainage pipe on Battlefield Parkway.
It took them working in the confined space, removing buildup for more than nine hours.
They rescued him from the pipe at shortly before 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 17. First responders then took him to a local hospital.
First responders transporting man freed from drain. Catoosa County PIO John Pless
PIO John Pless said the man was alive and breathing.
He also identified the man as 22-year-old Thomas Loher.
Loher’s mother reported him as missing early Tuesday morning. Then at around 3 p.m. that day, a motorist heard his cries for help while she was at the stop light and called 911.
Authorities said he has been stuck in the pipe since some time Monday. He entered the drain several hundred feet away from where he became stuck.
The reason Loher went into the pipe is still unknown.
April 16, 2024, 11:27 p.m.
Catoosa County Government
CATOOSA COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) — A man is stuck in a storm drain under Battlefield Parkway in Fort Oglethorpe, and first responders are still working to free him as of late Tuesday night.
As of 10:30 p.m., News 12 witnessed first responders still working at the scene. They have been working to free the man since at least 4:30 p.m.
The Catoosa County Government Facebook page said county firefighters were working as quickly as possible to free him.
However, the space is very tight and only about 2 feet wide. That is because there is a buildup of rocks, dirt and debris in the drain that has accumulated for years, Catoosa County PIO John Pless explained.
The Facebook post also said firefighters are hand chiseling through this hard buildup while a Public Works truck vacuums it out.
As of about 9:30 p.m., the man was still conscious and responding to first responders.
Pless explained that a person was at the stoplight at the intersection of Battlefield Parkway and Lafayette Road when she heard someone screaming for help. She then called 911.
It is currently unknown why the man entered the storm drain.
The Catoosa County Fire Department, Walker County Fire Rescue, Fort Oglethorpe Public Works and Georgia Department of Transporation were all on scene on Tuesday.
April 16, 2024, 4:37 p.m.
FORT OGLETHORPE, Ga. (WDEF) — Catoosa County Government is asking drivers to avoid the area of Highway 2/Battlefield Parkway and Lafayette Road.
In a social media post, they said a man is trapped in a drainpipe under the road.
Crews are working to extricate the man at this time.
Battlefield Parkway from the Catoosa and Walker County line to Lafayette Road is closed as of 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
We are working to learn more and will provide updates as they become available.
