‘I can’t breathe’: Texas man calls 911 from inside a clothing donation box, dies minutes later

On Monday, a 45-year-old Texas man tragically died after getting stuck inside a clothing donation box. He dialed 911 minutes before he lost his life.

In Harris County, Texas, a 45-year-old man dialed the emergency number at around 1:36 a.m. on Nov. 24, frantically asking for assistance. He was reportedly stuck upside down inside a clothing donation box at a shopping center near the Grand Parkway and Kuykendahl. The box, set up by the charity Arms of Hope, was was fitted with an anti-theft mechanism, which probably caused the man to get cramped inside.

Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman revealed in a statement that help reached within four minutes of his call. The emergency team then immediately began rescue efforts, but couldn’t save the man. “Fire crews worked to safely gain access and remove the subject. However, the male was later confirmed deceased on scene,” he said. The cause of his death is believed to be suffocation.

According to reports, the man was heard hastily saying “I can’t breathe. I’m having problems breathing,” during the alarming 911 call. “The individual got in the box and ended up turning himself in an awkward position to where it affected his breathing,” Herman revealed.

Police warns these donation boxes are “not to be accessed”

Herman reminded the public that donation boxes are not designed or built to be safe for human to climb into them. “Stay out of these boxes,” he reiterated. While the man who died has not been publicly identified, preliminary information suggests that he was probably homeless.

The exact series of events that led to this unfortunate tragedy is currently unknown. However, it is being suspected that he was trying to steal clothes out of the box when the incident happened. For now, the box has been removed, and the area where it was placed has been sealed.

“Please avoid the area and allow emergency crews room to operate,” the police requested. Meanwhile, the charity Arms of Hope also took cognizance of the matter and issued a statement expressing their condolences. Their spokesperson said,

“We are aware of the tragic incident involving a deceased individual discovered in a donation collection box. Our hearts and prayers are with the individual and their loved ones during this difficult time. Because this is an active investigation, we are not able to share further details at this time.”

The case is currently under investigation at the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. It has further sparked discussions about improvement in safety of such boxes, since they are placed in public settings.