A 23-year-old woman was rescued on Monday after she was found trapped inside a drainage canal along Bula-Lagao Road, where she had reportedly crawled nearly 300 meters in search of food.
Accoding to a GMA Regional TV report, the rescue unfolded after a tricycle driver noticed a hand sticking out from beneath the concrete cover of the canal. The woman, who was crying and calling for help, immediately caught the driver’s attention, prompting him to alert authorities.
Responding to the call were personnel from Barangay Bula, the General Santos City Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, and City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO). Together, they carefully pried open the heavy concrete lid to reach the woman.
Two barangay responders entered the canal and helped the woman out, initially mistaking her for a child due to her frail condition. She was given a breathing apparatus after struggling to breathe and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The CDRRMO later confirmed that the woman, a resident of Cotabato Province, had earlier taken a bath in the sea and entered a nearby canal in search of food. She reportedly crawled through the narrow underground system before getting stuck nearly 300 meters away from where she entered.
Authorities said she is now in stable condition and did not suffer any injuries.
