DELHI TWP. -- A Delhi Township man is recovering after he was rescued from a septic tank on Tuesday.
Police say the man was trapped up to his knees in mud and water on Pontius Road near Rapid Run Middle School for several hours.
Delhi Township Fire Chief Bill Zoz says a neighbor's dog first alerted a neighbor to the trapped man. Zoz says the neighbor's dog, Murphy, kept looking into the hole and wouldn't leave until his owner came to investigate.
Fire officials say the man was in the hole for about two hours before Murphy discovered him. It took rescue crews three hours to free him.
Crews took several steps to begin the rescue. First they removed all the water, but the man, who is in his 80's, was still stuck in the 15-foot deep septic tank.
Crews with the Urban Search and Rescue Team were called to the scene.
A doctor was also called because the man had a pre-existing medical condition. They were also concerned about the risk of hypothermia so crews pumped warm air down into the hole.
Chief Zoz described the man as a tough old guy and said he is in good shape and good spirits after the rescue.
A medical helicopter flew the man to University Hospital for treatment, but he should be okay.
It's not clear how the man became trapped.
