Homeless man survives 20-hour ordeal in trash bin
Last Updated: Monday, October 30, 2006 | 1:41 PM AT
CBC News
Fredericton police are trying to figure out how a homeless man wound up trapped inside a garbage dumpster for approximately 20 hours.
Police say a neighbour was walking past the garbage bins on Smythe Street just before 8 a.m. Monday morning, when a strange moaning noise began emanating from inside one of the green bins.
Cpl. Martin Gaudet says officers who responded to the scene found a man in his late 50s pinned inside the dumpster. He says the man could have been there for as long as 20 hours, but escaped serious injury.
"I understood that he was at the [Dr. Everett Chalmers] hospital and that they were going to do a check-up and he was going to be released later this [Monday] morning. That's what we were told."
Gaudet says officers are still trying to figure out how the man ended up in the dumpster.
'If a person has to find extra pennies by living in a dumpster, then maybe it's time for our new government to investigate the amount of income assistance that's given to people.' -Pat Carleson
Fredericton Emergency Shelter director Pat Carleton says it's likely the man was "dumpster diving" – searching the bin for bottles or other items that could be sold.
Carleson says she's never heard of anyone being trapped while dumpster diving, but it does pose a hazard to the people who do it. She says the incident is a sign that more needs to be done to help the homeless.
"If a person has to find extra pennies by living in a dumpster, then maybe it's time for our new government to investigate the amount of income assistance that's given to people."
Carleson says the minimum $270 monthly income assistance should be doubled.
2 comments:
Amen to that, but I doubt New Brunswickers will go for it. The worst thing about this, is they could have given the homeless guy a week in the hospital at least, it'll be the best accommodations he's had in a while.
I highly doubt that he was dumpster diving. When those big trucks come to get the garbage cans they are loud, so unless the guy was deaf I highly doubt thats how it happened. I think that he was seeking somekind of shelter out of the cold, and possibly the wind. He might of felll asleep, and before he could wake up and jump out fast enough it was too late. Yes they need to increase the money 270 is not enought to even pay for a room let alone food. They need to have a back to work program in place, provide some education.
The gov. is only out to better themselves and the people they know. Forget the rest.
Good story Charles
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