Texas: 3 Florida Hunters Dead After Saving Their Dog That Fell in Underground Tank

Three Florida hunters and their dog tragically died after being trapped in a cistern on private property in Bastrop County, Texas, per Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

The distressing incident occurred on August 9, as revealed by local law enforcement in a press release.

The hunters, engaged in hog hunting, were accompanied by a bloodhound when a devastating chain of events unfolded.

The dog leaped into the cistern, prompting three Florida hunters to leap in after it, stated Sheriff Maurice Cook during a press conference.

Regrettably, the cistern's atmosphere became laden with gases that overwhelmed the group, impairing their ability to stay afloat.

"So it wasn't long in the tank before they went to the bottom," noted Cook, explaining that the cistern, roughly 4 feet wide and filled with 8 feet of water, contained hydrogen sulfide gas.

Hydrogen sulfide gas exposure can result in various adverse health effects, including eye and respiratory system irritation, apnea, coma, convulsions, dizziness, headache, weakness, irritability, insomnia, and stomach upset, as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to Cook, the sequence of events commenced in the middle of the night, with one of the men entering the cistern to rescue the dog. Clothing and boots belonging to the other two hunters were discovered near the cistern, suggesting they removed their attire before entering the well.

Tragically, the authorities surmise that the hunters succumbed to hydrogen sulfide gas, sinking to the bottom of the cistern. Cook emphasized that the cistern was an open hole within a cornfield devoid of protective covering.

Florida Hunters Identified

Sheriff Maurice Cook has officially identified the victims of this tragic incident. Among them is Denise Martinez, 26, of Miami Gardens, South Florida.

Alongside her, Delvys Garcia, 37, from Naples and Noel Vigil-Benitez, 45, of Wauchula, also lost their lives, according to Local 10.

During a press conference, Cook emphasized that the cistern contained a substantial hydrogen sulfide gas concentration.

He pointed out that the accumulation of stagnant water and the decomposition of other animals previously perished within the cistern could lead to hazardous gas levels.

The hunting group involved a fourth individual from Texas, who refrained from entering the cistern.

According to Cook, this fourth hunting party member informed authorities that their dog had escaped from their vehicle. They traced its movements by using a tracking device attached to the dog's collar.

Divers Hesitate to Retrieve the Bodies of Florida Hunters

Efforts to retrieve the victims were met with challenges due to the hazardous gas levels, said USA TODAY.

Diving teams were apprehensive about entering the water, prompting authorities to pump out the water and ventilate the area. A drone was subsequently employed to assess the cistern's structural integrity.

A deputy ultimately entered the cistern multiple times and successfully retrieved the bodies of the hunters and the dog.

The rescue operation concluded at approximately 7:30 p.m. The bodies were transported to the Travis County medical examiner's office for further examination.

Preliminary information indicated that the property owner had recently passed away, but the identity of the property owner has not been disclosed by authorities.

"That group was there to save each other," he said. "That takes a lot of guts to jump in."

This is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: 3 Floridians, a dog found dead after falling into cistern in Texas - From 10 Tampa Bay