Man injured after falling into sewer drain

Victim transported to Mount Sinai Medical Center

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. ā€“ A man was resuscitated after he fell into a sewer drain Tuesday afternoon, according to Miami Beach police.

Investigators say the man was trying to help a woman get her keys out of the flooded storm drain. And that act of kindness almost killed him.

The incident happened at 74th Street and Ocean Terrace, one block east of Collins Avenue.

The area was inundated with water after the heavy rains that pounded South Florida Tuesday afternoon.

"The water covered it, so I couldn't see the curb," said James Vizuete, who saw the victim had fallen into the drain. "I was walking my dog and I saw the man, but he didn't look distressed."

The victim apparently removed the drain cover to find the keys.

"He had surfaced twice and he was OK," said Miami Beach Fire Rescue Captain Addonis Garcia. "On his third time he did not come back up and he was in the water for approximately 10 minutes.

Firefighters had trouble reaching the man and had to remove the cover of a nearby manhole to pull him out.

The victim was not breathing and had no pulse, but rescue crews were able to revive him. He was taken to Mount Sinai Medical Center in critical condition. His name has note yet been released.