The reason the man was inside the dumpster is still unknown and under investigation
The Houston Fire Department rescues a man stuck inside a garbage truck on May 29, 2026 Credit: KHOU 11/YouTube
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A man was rescued from a garbage truck in Houston after being dumped into it from a recycling dumpster
Firefighters used an aerial ladder and Stokes basket to free the man, who was conscious during the rescue
Authorities said the reason the man was in the dumpster remains unknown and is under investigation
Firefighters in Houston rescued a man who got trapped in a garbage truck.
On the morning of Friday, May 29, a garbage truck driver had emptied a recycling dumpster into the compactor, only to suddenly hear a man screaming for help inside.
From inside the truck, the man told the driver his legs were injured and the driver called 911, according to Click 2 Houston and ABC 13.
Crews then responded to her call at 3:49 a.m. local time at the 7500 block of Westheimer Road near South Voss Road.
The Houston Fire Department shared with the outlet that the man was conscious during his rescue.
The team used an aerial ladder and a Stokes basket before putting the man on a stretcher.
However, the reason the man was inside the dumpster is still unknown and under investigation. It contained no valuables.
The dumpster mostly consisted of recyclables and a lot of cardboard, which Houston Fire Department Senior Capt. Bryan Zaharias told ABC 13 made their rescue easier.
"Very fortunate for us he was laying in recyclables, not food or anything like that," he said.
After the man was freed from the garbage truck, he was transported to a hospital.
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PEOPLE reached out to the Houston Fire Department for comment.
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