Fumes Kill Man Working Inside Septic Tank

NORTH MIAMI (CBS4) – The owner of a popular restaurant in north Miami died over the weekend after he was overcome by fumes in an underground septic tank.

Thomas Gil, the co-owner of a local chain of soul food eateries called Esther's, was working on the underground septic system at his restaurant on NW 103rd Street at 7th Avenue when he began to have trouble breathing. Rochny Jules, a 20-year old cashier, said he heard screams for help and scrambled into the tank to save his boss.

"I tried to help him but I feel like I didn't do enough," said Jules.

Jules said Gil was on a ladder passed out inside an underground manhole. The younger man said he went into the manhole to try and help.

"Somebody attempted to go down there first but he couldn't fit because he wasn't small enough," said Jules, "So my first instinct was I'm going to go down there and try to put his head up."

But soon the fumes overcame Jules to and he had to be pulled out of the tank by the other employees.

"I felt weak, I couldn't go back because of the gas. All I remember is he pulled me back up and I laid right here in the dirt, I passed out for a couple of minutes," said Jules.

Paramedics rushed both men to the hospital. Jules recovered a short time later, and learned Gil did not survive.

"He was like a brother to me," said Luis Palacios who considered Gill his best friend. "Everybody is devastated. We loved him so much. We just celebrated his 50th birthday. He was very much loved.

Regulars of the restaurant were stunned at the news of Gil's death.

"It's real sad. It's a family owned business, and I know they employ most of the neighborhood. Like kids from school or whatever, they come here to work," said Andy Alexander.

Esther's remain closed Sunday and Jules said he didn't know when they would re-open.