(JOHN MCDONALD / iNFOnews.ca)
December 02, 2022 - 9:50 AM
A man in West Kelowna survived getting dumped into the back of a garbage truck and at least two cycles of the vehicle's compactor in West Kelowna early yesterday morning.
Firefighters responded to the incident in the 2100 block of Louie Drive at 5:40 a.m. yesterday, Dec. 1, according to an RCMP media release. Police officers and B.C. Ambulance paramedics also attended the scene and met with the driver.
The driver said during his route, he could hear banging coming from inside the truck. He stopped the vehicle, and after getting out, he could clearly hear somebody inside.
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After thinking about where the man would have gotten picked up, the driver said the compactor was possible cycled at least twice before it was discovered somebody was inside.
Members of the fire department were able to free the man. He had minor injuries to his feet and hands. He was hypothermic and was taken to the hospital.
“When the weather gets colder we sometimes see this happening as people seek shelter wherever they can,” Kelowna RCMP media relations officer Const. Mike Della-Paolera said in the release. “Fortunately, this outcome was favourable and he will survive his minor injuries.”
A 52-year-old man was crushed to death in the back of a recycling truck in Penticton last spring. He was sleeping in an unlocked dumpster which was dumped into the back of a recycling truck and then compacted.
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