Updated at 6:20 p.m., Saturday, September 21, 2002
Body of man recovered after Waipahu mill mishap
Advertiser Staff and Wire
Honolulu firefighters today recovered the body of a 55-year-old homeless man who apparently became trapped when the ground collapsed while he was digging for bottles last night at Waipahu Sugar Mill.Fire Capt. Richard Soo said one bottle hunter was pulled out by a bystander last night, but insisted another man was still trapped. The fire department was not notified until 9:30 a.m. today, Soo said.
At least 25 firefighters, including hazardous materials team members, were at the scene when the man was found dead in 5 feet of dirt..
The area is described as a closed-off former dump site for the sugar mill that is frequently populated by bottle hunters.
