‘Sad Tragedy’ | 3 Hog Hunters Died In An Underground Tank After Their Dog Fell In, Sheriff Says

AUSTIN – On Thursday, a Texas sheriff announced that a tragic incident occurred involving three hog hunters visiting from Florida. They lost their lives inside an underground tank filled with sewer gas, a situation that unfolded as one of them attempted to rescue their dog after it fell into the pit. Two other individuals leaped in as well in an effort to save their friends.

The incident occurred in a cornfield on the rural outskirts of Austin, where the bodies of two men, a woman, and their dog were found in the tank. Bastrop County Sheriff Maurice Cook said the tank was open at the top with an entrance measuring about 4 feet wide and containing 8 feet of water, along with hydrogen sulfide gas.

According to Cook, the sequence of events began in the early hours of Wednesday night when one of the men, the owner of a bloodhound dog, ventured into the tank to rescue the pet. The belongings of the other two hunters, including their clothing and boots, were found near the hole, indicating that they disrobed before entering the pit themselves. The sheriff surmised that the trio succumbed to the toxic hydrogen sulfide gas within the hole and sank to the bottom.

The individuals who lost their lives were identified as Delvys Garcia, 37; Denise Martinez, 26; and Noel Vigil-Benitez, 45. All three were residents of Florida.

Sheriff Cook said that the tank had a substantial concentration of hydrogen sulfide, explaining that standing water and the decomposition of other deceased animals within the tank could have contributed to the lethal gas levels.

Within the hunting party, a fourth individual from Texas remained outside the hole. This person told authorities that their dog had escaped from their vehicle, and they utilized a tracking device on the dog’s collar to locate it.

Recovering the bodies proved to be a challenge due to concerns from dive teams regarding the gas and the structural integrity of the tank’s walls. The tank emitted “strong fumes, similar to those of a septic tank, coming from the cistern,” the sheriff’s office said.

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