Rescue team recovers missing woman from storm drain in Poway, San Diego.

A search and rescue operation successfully extricated a missing woman from a storm drain near the San Diego-Poway border on Monday, following investigative efforts by police detectives that led them to the remote location. The 59-year-old woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, was transported to a local hospital in serious condition, as confirmed by San Diego homicide Lieutenant Jonathan Dungan, who oversees cases involving missing persons.

The woman was reported missing on March 30, over a week after her last known sighting at approximately midnight on March 25, on Union Street in downtown San Diego, just north of Broadway. Family members reported her absence to authorities, prompting a coordinated search effort.

Dungan detailed that the search intensified, leading detectives to an area located on Beeler Canyon Road, south of Scripps Poway Parkway. Neither police nor fire officials disclosed the rationale behind this specific focus, though the area is known to include hiking and biking trails and lies over 20 miles from her last known location.

While on-site, detectives heard a woman’s voice emanating from near a maintenance hole cover. Poway Deputy Fire Chief Chuy Ramirez reported that San Diego police reached out to the Poway Fire Department around noon for assistance after discovering personal effects close to the storm drain entrance and the sound of moaning from within.

Initial attempts to locate the woman resulted in detectives venturing approximately 100 feet into the drain without success. Consequently, San Diego Fire-Rescue’s Urban Search and Rescue team was deployed to continue the efforts. Battalion Chief Erik Windsor indicated that the rescue crew removed a nearby manhole cover and utilized a listening device, confirming audible signs of life.

Given the inherent risks of storm drain rescue operations, including hazardous gases and potential wildlife encounters, safety protocols were meticulously followed. Rescue personnel suited up and carefully navigated through the confined spaces of the piping, crawling through tight sections to locate the woman.

Despite extensive efforts to find her, initially no visual contact was made. As additional resources, including small robotic cameras, were gathered, rescuers proactively checked other manhole covers along Beeler Canyon Road. Their efforts were rewarded when they located the woman’s legs protruding from a manhole concealed by brush. A rescuer was lowered approximately 10 feet into the opening, where he assisted in securing her with a harness, subsequently hoisting her to safety within about 10 minutes, after which she was placed into a waiting ambulance.

Authorities believe the woman may have accessed the storm drain system through an outflow opening, coinciding with where her belongings were found. As of this report, it remains unclear how long she spent in the storm drain, and investigators have indicated that they suspect no foul play was involved in her disappearance. Lieutenant Dungan stated that no further details will be released out of respect for the individual and her family. This incident highlights the complexities and dangers faced during search and rescue operations in urban environments.

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