Centerport FD rescues man stuck in house trash

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December 10, 2006

Officials Rescue Man Stuck in House Trash

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

CENTERPORT, N.Y., Dec. 9 (AP) —

A 64-year-old man trapped since Tuesday by a pile of garbage and appliances in his Long Island home was rescued Saturday morning, the authorities said.

The man, Charles Ruoff, suffered dehydration, hypothermia and general weakness, the Suffolk County police said.

He was taken to a hospital in Northport after he was found by the police on the second floor of his house, a decrepit structure with major damage, including a wall destroyed by a fallen tree.

Centerport Fire Department Chief John Giacoppi said the house, which has been condemned, was extremely unsafe.

He said Mr. Ruoff apparently was living among the pile of debris, which was about seven feet high and went from wall to wall in his second-floor bedroom.

He had become caught between the pile and a wall.

An anonymous caller phoned 911 around 3:20 a.m. Saturday and asked the police to check on Mr. Ruoff because he had not been seen for several days.

Police entered the home and heard Mr. Ruoff calling for help in a weak voice.

The Fire Department’s technical rescue team had to help get Mr. Ruoff out.