A tourist has plunged down an open manhole in Thailand's Sin City before getting lost in the sewer.
He was successfully rescued from the sewers in Pattaya after a distressing incident where he accidentally fell into the sewer while making his way back to his hotel.
The tourists identified as 36-year-old Johnathan Vaimaona found himself disoriented and lost within the underground sewage system for what he described as "feeling like days".
Fortunately, he eventually heard voices emanating from a nearby storm drain, which gave him hope for rescue.
The distressed cries of the Hawaiian traveler caught the attention of nearby residents who immediately alerted authorities.
Rescue teams swiftly arrived at the scene, and after a collaborative effort, they managed to pull Vaimaona out of the 10-foot hole.
A video taken after the rescue showed Vaimaona, shirtless and covered in grime, drinking a soda and speaking to reporters.
In his bewildered state, Vaimaona said: "I was in front of the hotel and then I just came up and I don't know where I'm at. I just fell down a hole, and I didn't know where I was going. I came up on the other end. I don't know where I was going. It feels like I was in there for days. I don't remember what was happening."
According to Vaimaona, the incident occurred on the afternoon of May 12 while he was returning to his hotel. Despite his desperate cries for help, there was nobody around to assist him as he remained trapped within the sewer system.
He traversed the labyrinth of tunnels, continuously seeking aid until he finally heard voices resonating from a storm drain, accompanied by a ray of light from above.
Chalee Boonsri, a security officer, was the first to respond to Vaimaona's pleas. Recounting the incident, Boonsri said, "I was on my way to a convenience store for a drink when I suddenly heard a foreigner shouting.
"I looked around but didn't see anyone there. But when I looked at the pavement, I saw a man peeking at me from the drain."
Rescuers swiftly lifted the drain grates and successfully extracted Vaimaona from the sewage-filled underground. Clearly shaken and covered in filth, Vaimaona received immediate assistance from rescue workers who rinsed him off and provided him with a drink.
Subsequently, the local police initiated an inquiry, questioning Vaimaona about the incident.
Strangely, Vaimaona's statements raised suspicions among the authorities, as he appeared confused and claimed to be the "head of athletes from Cambodia."
In light of these inconsistencies, the police pledged to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Vaimaona's fall into the sewer.
