Texas pig hunters shot dead in septic tank while trying to save dog who fell into cistern

Three pig hunters have died in an underground tank filled with sewage gas after one tried to save their dog after it fell into the cistern.

The bodies of Delvys Garcia, 37, Denise Martinez, 26, and Noel Vigil-Benitez, 45, as well as a dog were recovered from the tank in a field on the outskirts of Austin, Texas.

Bastrop County Sheriff Maurice Cook said the hole had an opening about four feet wide and contained eight feet of water, as well as hydrogen sulfide gas.

Sheriff Cook said in the early hours of Wednesday, one of the men went into the cistern to rescue the dog, who was described as a bloodhound.

Clothing and boots from the two other hunters were found near the hole, suggesting they removed them before jumping in as well, Cook said.

The bodies of Noel Vigil-Benitez, pictured left, and Delvys Garcia, pictured right, were recovered by rescue teams on Wednesday

A GoFundMe has been organized to help the family of Denise Martinez, pictured here, and has already raised $20,000

Authorities believe the fighters, all from Florida, were overpowered by hydrogen sulfide gas in the hole and sank to the bottom.

First responders on the scene found the underground cistern and said there were strong fumes similar to those coming from a septic tank coming from inside.

In a statement, the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office said the standing water and instability of the cistern were hampering recovery efforts.

Cook told a press conference that the cistern had a “high level” of hydrogen sulfide, with stagnant water and decaying animals creating lethal levels of the gas.

The hunting party included a fourth individual, from Texas, who did not go into the hole.

Cook said the hunter told authorities the dog escaped their truck and they tracked it using a device on the dog’s collar.

He told a press conference: ‘Can you imagine? You have loved ones and they come to Texas to hunt and then it ends like this, which was a sad tragedy that just happened.”

The rescue teams decided to vent the cistern by removing the gas and then draining the water.

Bastrop County Sheriff Maurice Cook, pictured here, said in the early hours of Wednesday, one of the men went into the cistern to rescue the dog, who was described as a bloodhound

First responders on the scene found the underground cistern and said there were strong fumes similar to those coming from a septic tank coming from inside

The rescue teams decided to vent the cistern by removing the gas and then draining the water

Attempts were made to dig next to the structure to allow access from the side at a level near where the 3 bodies were located.

These efforts were soon abandoned as breaching the side would weaken the walls and make access unsafe.

After the fumes and water were cleared from the cistern and the air stabilized, a small drone was deployed into the cistern to check the integrity of the walls.

Rescue workers decided to lower someone into the cistern for salvage.

Investigator D. Newman descended into the cistern and managed to recover all three victims and the dog.

After her death, a GoFundMe is organized to help Martinez’s family, who have already raised $20,000.