The key facts
- The 45-year-old man spent about a day and a half in the manhole — from November 6 until he was found by DobroSpas-Omsk volunteers.
- A criminal case on negligence has been opened; the prosecutor's office is checking how the authorities restricted access to hazardous facilities.
- According to preliminary data from the prosecutor's office, the man was intoxicated at the time of the fall.
A day and a half in a manhole
In Omsk, a 45-year-old man spent a day and a half in an open manhole before volunteers from the DobroSpas-Omsk search team found him. After the rescue, he was taken to hospital with signs of hypothermia, the regional Investigative Committee directorate reported. According to Life.ru, the fall occurred in the afternoon of November 6 at the intersection of Smirnovskaya and Sirenevaya streets in the Bolshiye Polyа settlement; according to preliminary data from the Omsk Region prosecutor's office, the man was intoxicated at the time.
Review of the authorities and a criminal case
Investigators have opened a criminal case on negligence. The Omsk Region prosecutor's office is checking how local authorities monitored the condition of utility facilities and restricted access to hazardous areas. The practical purpose of the review is to establish why the manhole in a residential settlement remained open and accessible, and who is responsible for fencing off such facilities.
A similar incident in Sheregesh
Separately, Life.ru recalls another recent incident: at the Sheregesh ski resort in Kuzbass a snowboarder fell headfirst into the snow and spent about two minutes unable to get out. To avoid suffocating, he tried to clear the space around his face with his mouth; the moment of the rescue was caught on video. This is a separate incident, unrelated to the one in Omsk.
