Man rescued after falling in Fort Worth silo may have been urban exploring. What is it?
The Fort Worth Fire Department rescued an injured man from an abandoned grain silo south of downtown on Wednesday night, Oct. 2.
Officials said the unidentified man was several stories up inside the silo, and crews had to call for a high-angle rescue response. Fire Department medics treated the man inside the silo and he was taken to a local hospital in serious condition after being rescued.
While authorities have not said what the man was doing at the silo when he fell, there have been several TikTok videos from recent years appearing to show urban explorers recording themselves at the abandoned silos.
What’s urban exploring and where did it come from?
Urban exploring is defined as the exploration of abandoned or off-limits areas within an urban setting, according to Urbex Hub.
The hobby was once niche, but found a growing audience worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic as lockdowns and restrictions were commonplace. With traditional recreational activities on pause, people found urban exploring as an adventurous alternative, according to Urbex Hub.
Urban exploration as a concept has been around since the late 1700s.
In 1793, French doorkeeper Philibert Aspairt entered the Paris Catacombs and died while navigating the underground tunnels. Aspairt is who many urban explorers consider the founding member of the activity, according to Google Arts & Culture.
Is urban exploring legal?
It depends on the area, according to Urbexology.
If someone ventures into private property without permission, that is illegal. But if someone has permission from the property owner to explore, that’s all legal.
Texas Penal Code section 30.05 states that criminal trespass occurs when a person enters or remains on private property without effective consent and the person:
- Had notice that the entry was forbidden.
- Received notice to depart but failed to do so.
This story was originally published October 4, 2024 at 3:03 PM.
