EPHRATA, WA — A 31-year-old man from Spokane found himself in an unusual — and highly uncomfortable — situation Thursday morning when he became lodged upside down between a set of decorative stone pillars outside the Ephrata Amtrak station.
The incident occurred around 10:00 a.m. on July 24. According to Ephrata police, the man, identified as Jay Hill, had been attempting to retrieve a personal item that had fallen between two large stone columns. In the process, he slid head-first into the narrow gap, becoming firmly wedged with only his feet sticking out the top of the structure.
A Bizarre Scene
When officers arrived at the scene, they were greeted with an odd and startling sight: a pair of feet protruding awkwardly from the decorative pillars. Hill was completely stuck between the stones, with his body fully inverted and unable to free himself.
Fortunately, responding officers were able to safely extract Hill within minutes. While the stone pillars are made of real rock, they are purely decorative and not structurally critical, which helped ensure there was no property damage during the rescue.
No Injuries, But a Warning
Hill was uninjured in the incident and declined medical assistance. However, he did receive a stern warning from authorities. Police informed him that if a similar situation occurs again, he would be permanently trespassed from the property.
A Lighthearted Reminder
Though no harm was done, the incident serves as a lighthearted yet important reminder: think twice before diving head-first into tight spaces — especially in public areas. What began as an attempt to retrieve a lost item quickly turned into an awkward ordeal and an unexpected police call.
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