Plunge into cistern during hog hunt leaves three people, dog dead

ELGIN — Three visitors from Florida who died during a nighttime feral hog hunt when they plunged into a cistern have been identified by the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office.

The trio perished after attempting to save a dog that had fallen into the open rainwater cistern on farmland north of the city, according to Sheriff Maurice Cook, who spoke during a Thursday, Aug. 10, news conference.

Delvys Garcia, 37, Denise Martinez, 26, and Noel Vigil-Benitez, 45, were retrieved from the four-foot-wide water-supply hole at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 9.

Rescuers responded to an initial distress call about 1 a.m. Aug. 9 in the darkened cornfield, but the bodies weren’t recovered for about another 15 hours.

The cistern contained high levels of hydrogen sulfide, an extremely toxic gas, which complicated the excavation process, investigators said.

“If the hydrogen sulfide was not in there, this would probably have a different outcome,” Cook added.

The three Floridians were visiting a local friend, who wishes to remain anonymous, for a hog-hunting expedition when one of their dogs jumped out of their vehicle and fell into the water tank.

After one hunter jumped in to rescue the dog, described as a large bloodhound, and was overtaken by the toxic gases, the two others disrobed and attempted to save their companion, investigators said.

It is believed they all lost their ability to float in the poisonous, stagnant water and sank to the bottom.

The recovery effort was hindered by the gas, but with the support of the city fire and utility departments, first responders eventually were able to retrieve the bodies.

Earlier reports indicated the Austin Fire Department also made the scene, but was later released.

Heavy equipment was brought in, but attempts to dig beside the cavity proved futile, as the walls were unstable and risked making the scene worse, law officers said.

David Newman of the Sheriff’s Office volunteered to be lowered in after the gas and water were removed, securing the victims’ bodies with ropes so they could be lifted up.

“I was there when they were brought out, and that’s a surreal feeling, even after 55 years of law enforcement,” Cook said.

Cisterns are required by law to be covered or secured, and the investigation is continuing, deputies said.

The remains have been transported to the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office in Austin for autopsies.

Pick up next week’s copy of the Courier for more details.

Staff Writer Hunter Dworaczyk contributed to this report.