June 3, 2009

Raleigh, North Carolina

Emergency crews went to the home of an elderly man who slipped and fell into a septic tank.  Why the septic tank was open was not reported.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

March 26, 2009
 
PORTLAND, Oregon - The child's grandmother said it's a miracle her granddaughter is alive after she fell through the top of an old septic or cesspool system in a vacant lot owned by the city of Portland.
 
No one knew it was there and the city filled the hole Thursday afternoon. City workers said the hole was anywhere from 16 to 20 feet deep.
 
What seemed like a carefree game of baseball Wednesday turned scary for three children when Paje Wiklund, 9, disappeared under the ground as she was running to first base.
 
Paje's grandmother, Karin Wiklund, said the little girl fell through the ground and luckily landed on an old pipe that kept her from falling an estimated 16 to 20 feet more to the bottom of the hole.
 
"She could've been killed, she could've suffocated it could've been really, really bad," Karin Wiklund said.
 
Paje's family members said they are grateful the pipe was there because they shudder to think how they would've rescued their child otherwise.
 
This land is owned by Portland Parks, but it's undeveloped. The city said it does everything possible to make sure land it owns has no hidden dangers, but no one knew the old septic system was there.

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February 18, 2009 6:55 AM ET

ARGYLE, Texas (AP) - Argyle police say they have found the body of a 3-year-old girl who was last seen playing in her back yard was found early Wednesday in the septic system of her home. Investigators suspected the girl was in the septic tank when they noticed the tank's cover was missing.

Little Alisandra Galvan was last seen playing outside with her brothers and other relatives. Her mother said the girl, who they called 'Ali,' did not come inside when called to dinner.

The septic tank did have a lid, but it was not secure when the police looked into it. Once the tank was pumped out the girl's body was found in the bottom of the tank, along with the tank's cover.

The girl was reported missing by her family Tuesday evening.

The girl's parents had recently moved into the home. An investigation into the incident continues.