A homeless man was rescued early Wednesday from a garbage truck in San Francisco after his cries for help alerted bystanders. The incident occurred around 4:11 a.m. in the 100 block of Mason Street, near Union Square.
First responders were dispatched to the scene where the man had become trapped inside a dumpster. The dumpster was emptied into a Recology garbage truck, with the man still inside. The truck's compactor was then activated, potentially causing injuries to the man.
More than two dozen firefighters worked for approximately two hours to extricate the man from the refuse. One firefighter sustained a cut to his hand during the operation. Paramedics treated the man, who was covered in garbage, administering medication via an IV while he was still trapped. He was conscious and breathing when removed from the truck and transported to a hospital. The extent of his injuries remains unclear.
Firefighters plan to interview the man at the hospital, according to reports. The garbage truck belonged to Recology, a waste management company that serves San Francisco and other West Coast cities. Recology stated the driver was operating a front-loading truck for commercial customers, and was the sole employee on duty. A company spokesperson described the incident as "pretty unusual," noting it was the first such rescue from a Recology truck in 15 years.
Officials noted that such incidents, where individuals seek items or food in dumpsters, occur occasionally across the country. The incident is currently under investigation.
San Francisco faces a significant homeless population, and Mayor Daniel Lurie recently initiated a restructuring of the city's homelessness response system. This involves reallocating approximately $500 million in annual funding to an "outcomes-based" model that links financial support to organizations' success in assisting homeless individuals and the broader community.