The unsuspecting woman is seen in harrowing CCTV footage walking in the street while scrolling on her phone. As she steps on the manhole cover, the heavy metal lid gives way.
A woman was injured when she fell down a manhole on the way to work – after suspected thieves tried to steal the drain cover. Shocking footage shows the woman, 31, plummet down the drain as she walks along the pavement.
The unsuspecting woman is seen in harrowing CCTV footage walking in the street while scrolling on her phone. As she steps on the manhole cover, the heavy metal lid gives way.
A passerby rushes to her aid and she was later taken to a local hospital after the incident in Brazil. Local media reports that it came just hours after two men were captured by the same CCTV camera tampering with the cover.
The woman can be seen in the clip getting off a motorcycle on her way to work on Sunday morning. She then strolls down a pavement as she uses her phone.
Completely oblivious of the loose manhole cover ahead of her, she steps on the drain and the lid flips up and she is swallowed into the ground. The motorcyclist who dropped her off is seen rushing to her aid.
The woman was rushed to Andaraí Federal Hospital in Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, and suffered moderate injuries, according to local media. Her condition was not immediately clear.
Just hours before the horror incident, two men were captured by the same CCTV camera tampering with the cover, the Sun reports. Local authorities said they believed the pair were allegedly trying to steal the chunk of metal.
The manhole is located in front of a school on Rua Oto de Alencar. The suspects were seen trying to pry the manhole open at around 2am the day before. They removed the cover in the footage, but did not steal it.
One of them reportedly tried to close the drain, but failed to seal it properly. They were seen leaving the scene empty handed. Local authorities said that two manhole covers in the area had been identified.
They said: “The Tijuca Subprefecture reports that, after identifying two displaced manhole covers – likely resulting from an attempted theft – it sent a team to the location.
“The equipment has already been replaced, and the maintenance management has been contacted to ensure proper securing and street safety.”
It comes after Donike Gocaj, 56, fell to her death after stepping out of her car and slipping down an open maintenance hole in Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue two weeks ago.