In a state that often pushes the weirdness meter, even Clearwater firefighters admit this was one of their more bizarre rescues. The Clearwater Fire & Rescue Department received a call Thursday to rescue a man who was stuck inside a fiberglass tank on top of his pest control truck.
Crews arrived in the 2100 block of Capri Drive around 10 a.m. to find a pair of legs sticking out of a large tank used to store pesticides.
The man had been leaning into the tank to clean it when his shoulders became wedged inside the tank.
"He was into the tank at least up to the waist. But his feet were hanging over the side, so he had no support," said Lt. Bob Keane.
Firefighters tried pulling him out, but he was wedged so tightly, the effort caused him pain.
Finally, firefighters cut the fiberglass tank apart with a reciprocating saw to free him.
The man who didn't want to be identified was taken to the hospital as a precaution.