A 35-year-old woman in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, narrowly escaped a fatal tragedy after plunging headfirst into a deep, flooded sewer well when a manhole cover gave way beneath her feet. The horrific accident was the direct result of copper cable thieves tampering with urban infrastructure hours earlier.
The victim, identified as Fabiana Rosa, had just dismounted from a motorcycle when she accidentally stepped onto a loose manhole cover. The lid had been deliberately unseated hours prior by two thieves attempting to steal underground utility cables. As Rosa stepped on the unsecured metal, the lid spun wildly, causing her to fall headfirst into the deep, water-filled shaft where the water level reached up to her chest, while the heavy cover snapped shut completely over the opening above her.
Quick-thinking actions from bystanders prevented a fatal outcome. The motorcycle driver who had dropped her off witnessed the entire terrifying incident and immediately rushed to her aid. Joined by alert local neighbors, they managed to pry open the heavy cover and pull Rosa out of the hazardous well. She sustained serious injuries from the fall and was rushed to a local hospital for urgent medical treatment. Local authorities are investigating the incident and searching for the individuals responsible for leaving the manhole exposed.
