Homeless man rescued after becoming trapped in San Francisco garbage truck

In the early hours of Wednesday, a homeless man entered a dumpster seeking food and became trapped when a Recology front-loading garbage truck emptied the bin on Mason Street near Union Square. Witnesses heard his screams and called for help, leading to a rapid response by San Francisco fire crews and paramedics. Over two dozen firefighters worked through the waste, and one sustained a hand cut during the rescue.

Paramedics administered IV medication while the man remained covered in garbage, and after roughly two hours he was extracted, placed on a gurney, and taken to a hospital in stable condition. Recology spokesperson Robert Reed said the driver was alone on the vehicle and described the event as highly unusual, noting it was the first such rescue in 15 years for the company. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of the incident.