Life Saving Rescue After Man Falls In Septic Tank - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

catlover79 · 05-17-2010, 08:14 PM

http://www.fox8.com/news/wjw-family-...0,492051.story

Dave Nethers Staff Writer
3:56 PM EDT, May 17, 2010

UNIONTOWN, Ohio - Ed Antelak says he was helping his wife, Kathi, pull weeds in a front yard garden on Saturday when he felt the ground give way under his feet.

At first he tells Fox 8 News he thought it was a garden pond and he would drop only a few inches, but he says he just kept falling. "I guess I stepped over the septic, pulled (some weeds) out and it collapsed top of the septic went in and everything with it and me," Antelak told Fox 8.

Kathi says she was not far away and heard her husband's cries for help so she raced over to where he had been standing, "I heard him yell and I came over and he was saying get the ladder, its like...where are you?" Kathi said.

She tells Fox 8, Ed was struggling to hold onto the ground above the tank, his legs and torso inside the hole, but he kept slipping farther into the six foot deep tank. "I held my husband by the t-shirt for about fifteen minutes and he kept going under, into the sludge" Kathi said.

As she was trying to hold onto her husband she was also frantically trying to call 9-1-1 but lost her cell phone in the tank. Her cries were eventually heard by neighbors across the street who were setting up for a graduation party and raced over to see what was wrong.

Soon other neighbors, including Fred Hermanowski realized Ed was in trouble and joined the rescue effort.

With Ed slipping in and out of consciousness neighbors struggled to get a belt under his arms. Hermanowski brought a rope, "He's a big man, I don't know 275-300 pounds and trying to drag somebody out dead weight its a very difficult task."

Kathi says while she was holding onto her husband she prayed for God to give her the strength to hold on. Once help arrived she says she collapsed on the lawn herself, exhausted and suffering from a panic attack.

Once Ed was finally pulled from the hole, another neighbor and former nurse Ruth Katzenmeyer took over.

"Making sure he had a pulse and making sure his airway was open and he was able to breathe, and trying to get him to stay with us."

Ruth grabbed a hose and turned on a stream of cold water to wash Antelak's face, and says it was the cold from the water that revived him. "They pulled me out and were rinsing off my face with a little bit of water and she said that's not going to work," Antelak told Fox 8.

"She took the hose, turned it on full blast, ice cold water and I jumped up, which was good," he added.

Antelak was taken to Akron City Hospital where he spent Saturday night in Intensive Care. Monday he was released from the hospital suffering only a touch of pneumonia.

"There's no way to repay their kindness, because what they gave me..they saved my husband's life," Kathi said.

Neighbors who helped say they only did what anyone else would have done, not thinking about the awful conditions at the time.

Antelak understands it could have been much worse, "It's a great thing to know all of these neighbors around here would do anything for anybody."

MickeyMac · 05-17-2010, 08:40 PM

Thats a hell of a thing to happen.

Thank God the man is alright, and that is really touching to know his neighbors came to help him.

catlover79 · 05-17-2010, 08:54 PM

I know - thank God he is OK and sent helpful neighbors to rescue him.

Janice · 05-17-2010, 10:09 PM

That poor man. I"m glad it turned out okay.

catlover79 · 05-17-2010, 11:09 PM

They interviewed both the Antelaks on the news tonight and he is doing well. Mrs. Antelak got teary when she thanked the neighbors for their help.

Tweety · 05-17-2010, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

...Once Ed was finally pulled from the hole, another neighbor and former nurse Ruth Katzenmeyer took over.

"Making sure he had a pulse and making sure his airway was open and he was able to breathe, and trying to get him to stay with us." ...

The poor guy probably didn't want to breathe too much while he was down there.

That's great that both he and his wife are OK.

I don't think I've ever heard a story quite like this one. Wow!

catlover79 · 05-19-2010, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tweety

The poor guy probably didn't want to breathe too much while he was down there.

That's great that both he and his wife are OK.

I don't think I've ever heard a story quite like this one. Wow!

It's a miracle he's alive, for sure. But it had to be pretty embarrassing to endure this!

OH Nuts! · 05-20-2010, 02:30 PM

I'm just glad there was a happy ending and that they found out what great neighbors they have. Wow, what a scary incident.

05-17-2010, 08:14 PM	#1
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,396	Life Saving Rescue After Man Falls In Septic Tank http://www.fox8.com/news/wjw-family-...0,492051.story Dave Nethers Staff Writer 3:56 PM EDT, May 17, 2010 UNIONTOWN, Ohio - Ed Antelak says he was helping his wife, Kathi, pull weeds in a front yard garden on Saturday when he felt the ground give way under his feet. At first he tells Fox 8 News he thought it was a garden pond and he would drop only a few inches, but he says he just kept falling. "I guess I stepped over the septic, pulled (some weeds) out and it collapsed top of the septic went in and everything with it and me," Antelak told Fox 8. Kathi says she was not far away and heard her husband's cries for help so she raced over to where he had been standing, "I heard him yell and I came over and he was saying get the ladder, its like...where are you?" Kathi said. She tells Fox 8, Ed was struggling to hold onto the ground above the tank, his legs and torso inside the hole, but he kept slipping farther into the six foot deep tank. "I held my husband by the t-shirt for about fifteen minutes and he kept going under, into the sludge" Kathi said. As she was trying to hold onto her husband she was also frantically trying to call 9-1-1 but lost her cell phone in the tank. Her cries were eventually heard by neighbors across the street who were setting up for a graduation party and raced over to see what was wrong. Soon other neighbors, including Fred Hermanowski realized Ed was in trouble and joined the rescue effort. With Ed slipping in and out of consciousness neighbors struggled to get a belt under his arms. Hermanowski brought a rope, "He's a big man, I don't know 275-300 pounds and trying to drag somebody out dead weight its a very difficult task." Kathi says while she was holding onto her husband she prayed for God to give her the strength to hold on. Once help arrived she says she collapsed on the lawn herself, exhausted and suffering from a panic attack. Once Ed was finally pulled from the hole, another neighbor and former nurse Ruth Katzenmeyer took over. "Making sure he had a pulse and making sure his airway was open and he was able to breathe, and trying to get him to stay with us." Ruth grabbed a hose and turned on a stream of cold water to wash Antelak's face, and says it was the cold from the water that revived him. "They pulled me out and were rinsing off my face with a little bit of water and she said that's not going to work," Antelak told Fox 8. "She took the hose, turned it on full blast, ice cold water and I jumped up, which was good," he added. Antelak was taken to Akron City Hospital where he spent Saturday night in Intensive Care. Monday he was released from the hospital suffering only a touch of pneumonia. "There's no way to repay their kindness, because what they gave me..they saved my husband's life," Kathi said. Neighbors who helped say they only did what anyone else would have done, not thinking about the awful conditions at the time. Antelak understands it could have been much worse, "It's a great thing to know all of these neighbors around here would do anything for anybody."
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

05-17-2010, 08:40 PM	#2
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,008	Thats a hell of a thing to happen. Thank God the man is alright, and that is really touching to know his neighbors came to help him.

05-17-2010, 08:54 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,396	I know - thank God he is OK and sent helpful neighbors to rescue him.

05-17-2010, 10:09 PM	#4
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	That poor man. I"m glad it turned out okay.

05-17-2010, 11:09 PM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,396	They interviewed both the Antelaks on the news tonight and he is doing well. Mrs. Antelak got teary when she thanked the neighbors for their help.

05-20-2010, 02:30 PM	#8
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	I'm just glad there was a happy ending and that they found out what great neighbors they have. Wow, what a scary incident.