3 Hog Hunters Die Trying to Rescue Their Dog from a Gas-Filled Cistern
The Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office released photos of two of the three victims: Denise Martinez (left) and Vigil-Benitez (right). It is unclear if the dog in the photo was the dog that died during the incident. Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office / Facebook
A devastating accident involving a runaway hunting dog and an uncovered cistern containing water and hydrogen sulfide gas resulted in the deaths of three hog hunters from Florida on August 9, according to the Associated Press.
The incident occurred outside of Austin, Texas, in a cornfield off County Road 461. Four hog hunters—three from Florida and one local—were preparing for a night hunt. However, their bloodhound escaped the vehicle as they were getting ready. The group located the dog using a GPS collar and found it had fallen into an open water reservoir in the cornfield. The hole was approximately four feet wide. One hunter attempted to rescue the dog by jumping into the cistern, which was filled with toxic hydrogen sulfide gas. Two other hunters removed clothing before jumping in to save both the man and the dog. The three Florida hunters—Delvys Garcia, 37; Denise Martinez, 26; and Noel Vigil-Benitez, 45—died, along with the dog.
The water’s surface inside the cistern was roughly six feet below the top, making escape without assistance impossible. The noxious fumes from the hydrogen sulfide gas overcame the victims while also decreasing the water’s density, thereby making it difficult to float, per USA Today. Hydrogen sulfide gas is commonly found in wells and septic tanks. The hole contained the remains of other animals that had previously fallen in.
The fourth hunter, who hosted the hunt at that time and remains unnamed, reported the incident to local authorities at 1 a.m. Six dive teams declined requests for assistance, unwilling to enter the gaseous cistern for recovery efforts. Eventually, authorities drained the water and ventilated the gas before sending a drone into the tank to assess the structural integrity of the walls. Once the hole was empty of water and toxic fumes, a deputy entered three times to retrieve the bodies of the hunters and the dog. The hunters’ bodies were transported to the Travis County medical examiner’s office for autopsies.
An ongoing investigation is underway to determine the timeline of the incident. No suspicion of foul play has been mentioned by authorities. Family members created GoFundMe accounts for Martinez, Vigil-Benitez, and Garcia. Garcia, who leaves behind a wife and two children, is remembered on the GoFundMe page.
“It’s a sad day whenever it ends like this,” said Bastrop County Sheriff Maurice Cook during a news briefing on August 10. “Can you imagine? You have loved ones who come to Texas to hunt, and it ends in such a tragic way.”
A skilled hunter, dedicated conservationist, and advocate for ethical practices. Respected in the hunting community, he balances human activity with environmental preservation.