He was ‘freed’ in a matter of minutes after firefighters simply lifted the grate off (Picture: GETTY)
An Australian man who spent 36 hours in a drain ‘looking for phone’ was actually hiding from police after being involved in two car crashes.
A man from Brisbane, Australia who was rescued by firefighters had been in two dangerous driving incidents, police say.
The 38-year-old was hoisted out the stormwater drain on Monday, and had reportedly been linked to two crashes on Sunday morning, one involving a police vehicle.
He had initially told emergency services he had ventured underground to retrieve his phone.
Queensland police said that a car they were following in Kangaroo Point had reversed and crashed into the police car, causing substantial damage and injuring police officers.
The car then reportedly fled the area before becoming involved in a second crash, where the driver fled on foot.
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A drain rescue operation was called after firefighters responded to calls of a man ‘stuck underground’.
The situation was resolved in a matter of minutes, with firefighters simply lifting the lid on the drain.
The man was treated for hypothermia and abrasions.
Steve Gollschewski, the acting police commissioner, confirmed that an investigation had been launched into the bizzare incident: ‘It’s amazing what people will do sometimes and what happens, so yes, there’s always surprises.
‘But I like to work out what’s actually happening. So let’s get to the facts. I don’t know what they are yet.
‘Let the investigation run its course and we will work out where it goes from there.’
Police have appealed for anyone with more information to come forward.
The man walked six miles through the sewers in Romford after he fell in and couldn’t get back out (Picture: Triangle News)
It seems that Australians are not the only ones to live out their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle fantasies, as one Essex man had the same idea.
After the unnamed man emerged from a drain after three days wandering through sewage, the first thing on his mind was: ‘Does anyone have a fag?’
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