Woman dead after hours-long rescue effort at storm drain near Fort Myers Country Club

Tomas Rodriguez, Fort Myers News-Press
Updated ·1 min read

A woman who on Wednesday morning went into a storm drain near Fort Myers County Club was later confirmed dead after emergency workers tried for hours to rescue her.

Around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Fort Myers police announced they, along with Fort Myers Fire Department, Iona McGregor Fire District, Fort Myers Public Works and Lee County EMS, responded to Fort Myers Country Club, 3591 McGregor Blvd. in response to a report of woman who had gone into a storm drain.

Officer Kristin Capuzzi, spokesperson for Fort Myers police, said around 6:16 a.m. Wednesday a caller alerted them to a nude woman sitting on the side of the road.

When officers arrived on scene, they made contact with her, Capuzzi said, adding she had moved one of the drain covers along the golf course and entered the drain.

Officers tried to speak with the woman, but weren't successful, Capuzzi said.

"We do believe this could be, or most likely was, a mental health crisis," Capuzzi said.

Emergency officials work a scene on Hill Avenue next to the Fort Myers Country Club on on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. A woman is dead after intentionally entering a storm drain system. Emergency and public works officials worked for hours to try to rescue her but she died.
Emergency officials work a scene on Hill Avenue next to the Fort Myers Country Club on on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. A woman is dead after intentionally entering a storm drain system. Emergency and public works officials worked for hours to try to rescue her but she died.

Capuzzi said that even as Fort Myers firefighters arrived on scene, the woman continued "further and further into the drain."

"At that point, we lost contact," Capuzzi said. She added the attempted rescue lasted three hours.

Capuzzi said the rescue mission became a recovery effort around 9:15 a.m.

Rescue workers found the woman approximately 24 feet from the grate where she had initially entered the drain pipe.

Hill Avenue was closed for several hours during the rescue and recovery.

Emergency officials work a scene on Hill Avenue next to the Fort Myers Country Club on on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. A woman is dead after intentionally entering a storm drain system. Emergency and public works officials worked for hours to try to rescue her but she died.
Emergency officials work a scene on Hill Avenue next to the Fort Myers Country Club on on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. A woman is dead after intentionally entering a storm drain system. Emergency and public works officials worked for hours to try to rescue her but she died.

Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran and Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Woman dies after going into Fort Myers Country Club storm drain