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San Diego Woman Found in Storm Drain Succumbs to Injuries After Rescue
In a tragic incident in San Diego, a 59-year-old woman who had been missing since March 25 was discovered inside a storm drain on Monday. Despite being extracted by rescue personnel, she succumbed to her injuries shortly thereafter.
Woman Pronounced Dead Following Storm Drain Extraction
Yafang Zhou, 59, was pronounced deceased at approximately 4:15 p.m. on Monday by a physician at Palomar medical center. This occurred mere hours after first responders successfully removed her from the confined space of the drainage system.
Extensive Search Leads to Discovery
According to reports from ABC News, the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) located Ms. Zhou approximately 8 to 10 feet underground along a hiking trail, about 20 miles outside of San Diego. SDFD Battalion Chief Erik Windsor stated to reporters that her location was pinpointed using cell phone location technology after her family reported her missing on April 3. She was last seen near her residence in downtown San Diego on March 25.
Locating the Missing Woman
Chief Windsor detailed the search efforts, explaining that after detecting Ms. Zhou’s phone signal in the Beeler Canyon Road vicinity, firefighters proceeded to remove maintenance hole covers. “They just kept going until they could either hear her or see her,” Windsor commented. Ultimately, rescue personnel were able to hear Ms. Zhou’s moans emanating from beneath the surface.
Confined Space Rescue Operation
Once Ms. Zhou was visually located, first responders initiated a specialized confined space rescue operation.
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“Units entered into the sewage system, what we classify as a confined space,” Chief Windsor explained to ABC News San Diego. “They meticulously followed all established safety protocols to ensure a secure entry. Firefighters then literally entered the sewage or storm drain, navigating on their stomachs to reach the victim.” He further elaborated that a system involving ropes and pulleys was employed to safely lower personnel into the storm drain.
Rescue and Medical Transport
Following an intensive search lasting approximately 90 minutes, rescuers successfully brought Ms. Zhou to the surface and transferred her to a waiting ambulance. Paramedics assessed her condition as critical and promptly transported her to a local hospital. Chief Windsor, as reported by NBC San Diego, indicated that hospital staff administered “lifesaving measures,” but unfortunately, these efforts were unsuccessful.
Unusual Circumstances and Ongoing Investigation
First responders have refrained from releasing further details to the public, citing privacy regulations and the Zhou family’s request for privacy. However, Chief Windsor characterized the incident as “highly unusual.”
“It is quite possible, based on preliminary information, that she may have been in that location for several days,” he stated. “The circumstances surrounding her presence in the storm drain, including how and why she entered, remain unclear. I will defer to our partners at the police department for any additional insights they may have. However, it is certainly unusual for an individual to be found in such a location.”
Questions Remain About Entry Point
Chief Windsor noted that no open maintenance hole covers were discovered in the area, leading to questions regarding Ms. Zhou’s point of entry into the drainage system.
“It is conceivable that she entered the storm drain system through one of the outlets, which are designed to be open for water outflow into the creek or another drainage point, or possibly through some other means,” he concluded.