Complex Rescue in Jerusalem: Man Trapped in Buried Tank Saved

Firefighters and special rescue units successfully extracted a man who had fallen into a buried tank in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo during Shabbat. Upon arrival, rescue teams detected a lack of oxygen inside the tank and identified the trapped individual as someone with a history of mental health challenges, according to police.

Given the dangerous conditions and the man's state, firefighters first worked to persuade him to wear a special rescue hood that supplied him with breathable air. Simultaneously, they stabilized the situation and pumped air into the tank using specialized equipment until gas concentrations significantly decreased. The operation was complicated by the tank's weight, estimated at one ton with its contents, necessitating the involvement of the Jerusalem Municipality to provide a crane for lifting.

After more than an hour of intensive work, the tank was lifted, and the man was rescued alive. Paramedics provided him with medical treatment, and he was transported to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in moderate condition. The incident commander, Chief Fire Officer Rami Meir, described the rescue as complex and dangerous, emphasizing the initial priority of reducing hazardous gas levels before extraction could be safely performed.