Woman goes for swim in 350,000-gallon water tank – then needs rescuing, Alabama cops say
A 350,000-gallon water tank will have to be drained after a woman decided to take a swim in it, Alabama authorities say.
Police and fire personnel for the City of Athens had to rescue the woman, who’s accused of breaching a fence barrier and climbing a ladder to the top of the 70-foot water tower Thursday, according to a news release posted on the city’s Facebook page.
The hatch, which city officials said wasn’t properly secured, closed on her after she climbed in to swim.
Doug Duren, a retired Athens police officer who lives nearby, called authorities after he spotted the woman climbing up the water tank. Two firefighters found her swimming inside and convinced her to come to them, officials said.
Crews managed to get her out using a harness before walking her down on the ladder.
“We appreciate the neighbors and Mr. Duren who contacted authorities because we could have had a very different outcome,” Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson said.
Wastewater department officials said they will drain the tank so that it can be sanitized. The woman, who wasn’t publicly named, will undergo a mental evaluation, police said.
Athens is located about 35 miles west of Huntsville.
This story was originally published August 6, 2021 at 2:37 PM with the headline "Woman goes for swim in 350,000-gallon water tank – then needs rescuing, Alabama cops say."