Homeless person cheats death
- added September 12, 2008
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The quick thinking of a garbage truck driver likely saved a homeless man's life early yesterday morning, EMS officials said.
The man broke both legs and his pelvis after plummeting some 10 to 15 feet from a BFI bin when it was emptied into the rear of a garbage truck.
While EMS spokesman Paul Lapointe said the man was taken to hospital in serious, life-threatening condition, he and fire department spokesman Jeff Budai said, given the circumstances, things clearly could have been much worse.
"He is very fortunate he is alive," Budai said.
Hearing a thump as he went to dump the bin BFI driver Boi Djalo, 40, said he was relieved he discovered the man before he ended up compacted with the trash.
"I heard the noise and I sensed something was wrong and stopped right away," he said.
He said the man appeared so inebriated he couldn't talk and emergency crews, including firefighters who rescued him from the bin, later discovered serious injuries prevented him from climbing out himself.
"It's just fortunate a switched-on driver noticed him before he was processed with the other garbage," Insp. David Kotowski said.
BFI operations supervisor Dean Richardson said similar incidents have happened -- often enough drivers routinely take steps to try to ensure no one is in a trash bin about to be compacted.
The man broke both legs and his pelvis after plummeting some 10 to 15 feet from a BFI bin when it was emptied into the rear of a garbage truck.
While EMS spokesman Paul Lapointe said the man was taken to hospital in serious, life-threatening condition, he and fire department spokesman Jeff Budai said, given the circumstances, things clearly could have been much worse.
"He is very fortunate he is alive," Budai said.
Hearing a thump as he went to dump the bin BFI driver Boi Djalo, 40, said he was relieved he discovered the man before he ended up compacted with the trash.
"I heard the noise and I sensed something was wrong and stopped right away," he said.
He said the man appeared so inebriated he couldn't talk and emergency crews, including firefighters who rescued him from the bin, later discovered serious injuries prevented him from climbing out himself.
"It's just fortunate a switched-on driver noticed him before he was processed with the other garbage," Insp. David Kotowski said.
BFI operations supervisor Dean Richardson said similar incidents have happened -- often enough drivers routinely take steps to try to ensure no one is in a trash bin about to be compacted.
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