Okotoks, Alta., man, canine unhurt after being trapped in septic tank

An Okotoks, Alta., couple and their canine have been caught up in a harmful scenario whereas on a stroll final week.

On April 16, Greg Saulnier and Emily Rawson have been out strolling in an space behind their house when one among their canine, named Buck, fell by way of a gap in a subject resulting in an deserted septic tank.

“My canine was within the pond out within the forest and I rotated to search for my different canine and it was utterly lacking,” Rawson stated.

Rawson and Saulnier started trying in all of the storm drains and different locations the place a canine might get trapped and shortly discovered it had fallen right into a gap within the floor.

“He was barking actually loudly – screaming virtually,” Rawson stated.

“I virtually stepped within the gap myself, I am fairly certain.”

The pair first tried to get the canine out by attempting to achieve in, but it surely was too far.

With out one other thought, Saulnier jumped into the opening himself.

“I seen that his head was type of coming up and down within the water and I spotted his swimming was beginning to sluggish,” he stated.

The tank wasn’t stuffed with human waste, solely rain water, however he nonetheless knew he was in serious trouble.

“It was pitch black in there,” Saulnier stated. “The water was chilling on my physique and I used to be feeling weaker and simply type of in shock.”

Rawson stated she began having a panic assault when the entire thing occurred, however that did not cease her from attempting to assist.

“I used to be so scared,” she stated. “I ran up an enormous hill to my home in two minutes and again with a rope whereas I used to be having a panic assault.

“It was loopy.”

Saulnier was ultimately in a position to get Buck out himself, choosing up the canine and pushing it again up out of the opening within the tank.

Nonetheless, Saulnier was nonetheless trapped.

“When you’ll be able to see the opening and learn how to get out, however you do not have the power to really get your self out, it is type of a terrifying feeling,” he stated.

Rawson says ultimately she and her dad have been in a position to get him out sufficient so Saulnier’s head and chest have been out of the tank, however they could not get him out any additional.

“The outlet was so tiny,” she stated. “The most effective guess, as a result of he began to slide, was to attend for assist.”

Utilizing the rope she’d retrieved, Rawson and her dad tied it round him to carry him there till first responders arrived to finish the rescue.

The pair say they’re stunned {that a} hazard like an deserted septic tank went unnoticed for therefore lengthy.

“This can be a very fashionable park for individuals to be strolling round,” Rawson stated. “We by no means had any concept that this was there.”

Saulnier says the tank shouldn’t be marked in any respect.

“There was no signage, fences, gates or something. It was simply open land.”

Rawson’s canine Buck was the primary one who fell into the tank and her boyfriend Greg jumped in quickly after to avoid wasting the pooch.

Rawson is grateful for the efforts of all the primary responders who got here to the scene.

“They have been superb,” she stated. “We have been actually pleased with the way it went. They made certain everybody was okay.”

The open gap for the tank is now marked, however Rawson says there are different dangers in different areas.

“We did discover out there may be one other one that’s larger and it’s unmarked,” she stated.

“It is simply on the opposite aspect of the highway.”

CTV Information has reached out to the Okotoks Hearth Division for extra particulars on this story.

The City of Okotoks stated on Thursday that it has requested the property proprietor to place up indicators alongside their land and to shut and seal the opening.