D.C. man looking for dropped phone falls into trash chute

July 24 (UPI) -- Firefighters in Washington, D.C., said they rescued a man who fell into his building's trash chute while looking for his dropped phone.

D.C. Fire and Emergency Services said the man told rescuers he leaned into the trash chute to see if he could spot his phone after throwing away his garbage about 3 a.m. Sunday and ended up falling in.

The man apparently found his phone, as he was able to call 911 from inside the trash chute, D.C. Fire and Emergency Services spokesman Vito Maggiolo said.

A video tweeted by the department shows firefighters feeding fresh air down the trash chute to help the man breathe while they worked on a rescue plan.

The department's confined space rescue unit was called in and they were able to use a harness to hoist the man out of the chute.

The man was checked out at the scene and released when he was found to be free of serious injuries.