Man Spends X-Mas Eve Stuck In Septic Tank

Attempt To Fix Clog Results In Emergency Rescue; "Worst Christmas Eve I've Ever Had"

(CBS/AP)  It was a stinky holiday for Robert Schoff.

The 77-year-old man spent part of Christmas Eve stuck upside down in the opening of his septic tank, with his head inside and his feet kicking in the air above.

"It wasn't good, I'll tell you what," Schoff said Tuesday. "It was the worst Christmas Eve I've ever had."

Schoff reached into the tank Monday in an effort to find a clog, but he lost his balance and got wedged into the opening.

The 5-foot-5-inch 135-pound Schoff hollered and screamed for help, but it was an hour before his wife, Toni, walked by a window and saw his feet in the air.

"I saw these kicking feet and ran out, but couldn't get him out," Toni Schoff said.

She called emergency rescue and two sheriff's deputies yanked her husband out of the tank.

Rescue workers said they had never seen anything like it.

“It's a little different that what we're used to, yes, it's unusual. It's my first time, a little strange, yes,” firefighter Eric Erickson told CBS News affiliate KCCI.

After some work, firefighters were able to pull Shoff out of the hole. They said he was covered head to toe in sewage.

"I thought it was the end of my life," Schoff said. "Thank God my wife saw me. I don't think I could have stood staying in there much more."

Rescue workers said Shoff was walking and talking after his ordeal. He was taken to the hospital and doctors said he was OK, before being sent home, reports KCCI.

[Krazcarl]

I''m not a rocket scientist but growing up my parents and teachers told me the Chistmas was to celibrate the birth of chirst not the fat guy from the north pole, if you don''t like christ don''t celebrate it wasn''t that easy. Besides he was born in the spring not the dead of winter for all of you that need to know.

[slim1h2o]

Why should they put the "Christ" in Xmas. The world knows Dec 25 is the winter soltice festival and has nothing to do with some crack-pot relgion.

Posted by bucsbiker at 04:34 PM : Dec 26, 2007

Hey,,Goof,the winter soltice is 12/21 not on the 25.

Put your hat back on,,,your brains are falling out..LOL

[knyghtwolf]

I thought bush was in Camp David, not his summer place!!!! LOLOLOLOL

[michellem99-2009]

Don''t they still sell that stuff yer suppose to fluse down the loo in a box every 6 month..rid-x..

[feelfree1]

Re: "They said he was covered head to toe in sewage."

How is this possible, if his feet were, "kicking in the air above..."?

Was the air also filled with sewage?

[fitedafuture]

BUCSBIKER,THAT COMMENT MAKES NO DANG SENSE..

[fitedafuture]

YOU COULD SAY THE GUY HAD A SHI&%Y XMAS!!! HA HA ..

[questionnews]

Who''s vehicle did he go to the hospital in? And was he hosed down before he got in?

[bucsbiker]

Why should they put the "Christ" in Xmas. The world knows Dec 25 is the winter soltice festival and has nothing to do with some crack-pot relgion.

[rushman71]

He probably screamed,"OHHHH SHIIIIIIIIIIIT!!!!!!"

[sgtrds]

Ah I got that beat. He never had to spend a Christmas Eve with my ex-mother-in-law! That''s much worse believe me!

[jefitzgerald]

Why did you leave out CHRIST in your headlines. CHRISTmas is his day and using a X is not good.

[Krazcarl]

I thought my christmas eve was boring {i''m single no children} but this guy lets me cknow it was OK...

[leopardgrl1]

After all that mess, where in the heck was the dog?!

[slim1h2o]

O.K. now.....that just stinks.

[extremophil]

Phew! He must have been a baaaad boy this year.

[rowdytexan2]

Talk about your WORST nightmare!!! omg!