Latest twist in case of man ‘trapped’ for 36 hours in storm water drains at Kangaroo Point, Brisbane

A man who was trapped in storm drains for more than a day and claimed he was trying to get his phone back was allegedly hiding from police.

The Southern Downs man spent 36 hours lost in the inner-city drainage network around Kangaroo Point in inner-city Brisbane, and was offered help out by at least one passer-by, which he refused.

He was finally rescued when local resident James Lingwood heard heavy breathing at around 11am on Monday and called emergency services.

Firefighters at the scene were able to cut the drain and remove the man to safety.

Lingwood explained that she had heard the man “sort of screaming” into the phone as he ran along the storm drain on Sunday.

Before venturing into the storm sewers, the man allegedly crashed into a police car while in a vehicle.

“It is alleged that at around 4.20am, officers were on patrol in a police vehicle near Anderson St when they saw a suspicious Ford Falcon entering that street,” police said on Tuesday.

‘The officers attempted to follow behind the Ford before it allegedly reversed and struck the officer’s vehicle, causing substantial damage to the Ford and moderate damage to the officer’s vehicle.

“The damaged Ford fled the area before being involved in a road traffic accident with a Mitsubishi ASX on Shafston Ave a short time later.”

The police officers were uninjured and the driver of the Mitsubishi suffered minor injuries.

Police said the 38-year-old man found in the drain is helping them with their investigations.

Mr Lingwood explained that he had previously offered to help the man out of the drain, but he refused and insisted he could find his way out.

“He looks up and says, ‘Hey, man.’ I said, ‘Are you okay? Can I help you?” He said, ‘No, bro, I’m okay,’ but he’s knee-deep in the water and I’m thinking, what do I do? Mr. Lingwood said to the Mail.

“But he seemed fine and said he could get out the way he came in, so I left him alone.”

‘I wanted to help him when I first saw him, but he didn’t want my help. I don’t think he thought he was in any great danger at the time.

Lingwood decided to call triple-0 on Monday after hearing heavy breathing, as if “someone was in danger.”

The man told emergency services he drank rainwater to survive and spent most of his time in the drain crawling on his hands and knees.

He told rescuers he spent most of the 36-hour ordeal partially submerged in water and had to wade through waves of storm water as he searched for an exit.

He was rushed to Mater Hospital in the south of the city, where he was treated for hypothermia and some cuts and abrasions.

When the man finally found an opening, he shouted for help, attracting the attention of a local resident and an employee of a nearby building.

The employee said the man had been “running everywhere down there” and wasn’t sure if he was lying down or able to get up when he was rescued.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Queensland Police for comment.