CHANDLER, Ariz. — A person who was trapped in a drainage well for two days was rescued Wednesday by the Chandler Fire Department, officials said.
An unidentified man was able to escape the well near Arizona Avenue and Pecos Road after firefighters removed a drainage hole cover, which allowed the uninjured person to safely climb out.
Chandler fire said the person declined transport to a medical facility and was taken into custody by police.
Chandler police said the individual was arrested on suspicion of trespassing at the location.
The circumstances of how the individual gained entry into the drainage well are still under investigation, the fire department said.
"This incident serves as a reminder of the potential dangers of unauthorized entry into confined spaces, which can lead to serious injury or worse," the fire department wrote in a statement.
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How big is Maricopa County?
Maricopa County is the United States’ 4th largest county in terms of population with 4,485,414 people, according to the 2020 Census.
The county contains around 63% of Arizona’s population and is 9,224 square miles. That makes the county larger than seven U.S. states (Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New Hampshire).
One of the largest park systems in the nation is also located in Maricopa County. The county has an estimated 120,000 acres of open space parks that includes hundreds of miles of trails, nature centers and campgrounds.
The county’s seat is located in Phoenix, which is also the state capital and the census-designated 5th most populous city in the United States.
The county was named after the Maricopa, or Piipaash, Native American Tribe.
