Woman rescued after falling in vault toilet to retrieve cellphone

BRINNON, Wash. — Firefighters from Brinnon and Quilcene came to the rescue of a woman who fell and got stuck in a vault toilet after attempting to retrieve her cellphone.

This occurred at the top of Mount Walker near the north parking lot.

Brinnon rescuers said the woman, in her 40s, was using the toilet when she dropped the phone inside.

The woman reportedly tried to dismantle the toilet by taking off the seat and housing to get her phone. She used her dog’s leashes to help support her while trying to fish the phone out, but they failed and she slid into the toilet head first, firefighters said.

She then used her cellphone to call 911 after about 20 minutes in an attempt to climb out.

Firefighters found her inside, assessed the situation and then made a tall makeshift cribbing platform, which was passed down, helping her to stand on, crews said.

They then pulled her to safety.

The woman told rescuers she was not injured and did not want to be taken to a hospital, officials said.

The firefighters said she was “washed down and given a Tyvek suit to wear,” and then was strongly encouraged to pursue medical attention after being exposed to human waste.

However, they said she just wanted to leave and travel back to California.

Rescuers said the woman was “extremely fortunate not to be overcome by toxic gases or sustain injury.”

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