Lee County, FL – A dog named Fletcher is back home after a coordinated rescue effort involving deputies, firefighters and animal control officers who used drone technology to locate him inside a storm drainage pipe, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the rescue began at approximately 8:45 a.m. Monday in the Portico community after Fletcher crawled deep into a storm drainage pipe and became trapped.
Deputies responded alongside the Fort Myers Shores Fire Department and Lee County Animal Control. To locate the dog, operators with the sheriff’s office’s Advanced Technology Support Unit (ATSU) deployed a drone into the drainage pipe, allowing responders to maintain a live view of Fletcher’s location throughout the operation.
Using the drone’s live video feed to guide their efforts, firefighters carefully cut several access points into the drainage pipe until they were able to safely reach and remove the dog.
Authorities said Fletcher was rescued without reported injury and was safely reunited with his owner.
The sheriff’s office credited the successful rescue to the teamwork and coordination between all responding agencies, highlighting how technology helped first responders quickly locate the trapped animal while minimizing the need for unnecessary excavation.
No injuries to first responders were reported during the incident.
