LEAGUE CITY—One week after returning home from the hospital, a man who spent nearly two days at the bottom of a manhole said he feels lucky to be alive.
“I’m so grateful for the people who saved me,” said Kevin Gonterman.
Gonterman is a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic. The 25-year-old vanished after he fled from his League City home two weeks ago, following an argument with his fiancé.
“She called the police and I didn’t want to go to jail,” he said.
Gonterman ran into nearby woods and thought he could hide for a while in a manhole.
“I removed the lid and tried to hold myself up inside,” he said.
Instead, he lost his grip and plunged about 30 feet to the bottom.
“I started screaming for help. I was hoping the police were still looking for me,” he said.
Gonterman had no food or water. Eventually, he stuffed a sock with pebbles and grains of sand to make a crude filter.
“I used it to pour water around in my mouth,” he said.
Gonterman said he was repeatedly bitten by spiders and at one point, began to hallucinate.
“I thought I was being attacked by alligators and snakes,” he said.
Finally, after 44 hours in the darkness, a volunteer from Texas Equusearch located the manhole.
“And he looked inside and I was so happy,” Gonterman said.
Gonterman spent about a week in the hospital, where he was treated for severe dehydration, along with minor cuts and bruises. League City police said their investigation into the matter is closed. No charges will be filed.
“I’m just happy I’m home,” he said. “I didn’t think I’d survive.”
