Man inside portable toilet is swept down flooded street before stranger drags it to safety

A portable toilet drifting down a flooded street would be strange enough on its own. What made this one unforgettable was the fact that someone was still inside it, calling for help as heavy rain battered the city around him.

The incident unfolded in Baranquilla, Colombia, earlier this week, where heavy storms left roads waterlogged and fast-moving runoff turning streets into channels of murky water.

Video of the moment shows a single plastic portable toilet being carried along a road by the floodwater. As it moves, the cubicle turns and rocks from side to side, at points tilting awkwardly while the rain continues to come down. According to the account alongside the footage, the man inside had only just sat down when the flash flood took hold of the toilet and sent it down the street.

The scene gets even more surreal when cries for help can apparently be heard coming from inside the cubicle as it is pushed toward deeper water.

A stop around the corner, and a rescue in knee-deep water

The toilet does not keep moving forever. It eventually comes to a halt near a street corner, creating a brief chance for somebody nearby to step in.

A passer-by is seen wading through the dirty floodwater, which reaches up to his knees, before grabbing hold of the portable toilet and pulling it back toward the side of the road. Once it is steadied, the door opens and the man trapped inside climbs out.

He then helps push the toilet toward the front of a shop, where it is finally brought to a stop.

The clip captured one of the strangest images from the downpour, but it was far from the only disruption caused by the weather. Local accounts described several roads across the city as being turned into rivers. In other incidents in the same city, cars and motorbikes were reportedly washed away by the force of the rainwater running through the streets.

Not the only portable toilet rescue this year

As bizarre as the flood rescue sounds, it is not the only recent story involving somebody becoming stuck in or around a portable toilet.

In July, one unnamed man in Kansas City spent eight hours trapped inside the drainage system of a porta-potty at a World Cup-linked event, according to ABC News. A spokesperson for the company responsible for the portable toilets said workers came across him during a routine collection.

Patriot Portable Restrooms partner Chip Counterman said one cubicle was found locked when the team arrived to pick up the units. He said the person inside was told he had 10 minutes to finish up.

Counterman said the man later claimed he had entered to retrieve a soft drink, telling responders he was trying to get back a bottle he had dropped the night before. Firefighters eventually got him out, and he was washed off with their hoses.

That earlier case was hard to top. Then a flash flood in Colombia carried an occupied toilet down a street and somehow produced a rescue even stranger to watch.

What a portable toilet is and how it works

A portable toilet is a self contained toilet unit used where normal plumbing is not available, such as at outdoor events, building sites and temporary work areas. Most are made from lightweight plastic with a toilet seat above a sealed holding tank. Many also include a vent pipe to reduce odour, a hand sanitiser dispenser, or a small hand washing station.

Waste drops into the tank, where chemical treatments are often used to control smell and help break down solids. The unit is then emptied and cleaned by specialist servicing rather than being connected to a sewer in the usual way. Because they are designed to be moved, they are useful and practical, but they are not as stable as a permanent bathroom and they are not intended to act as shelter.

Why floodwater makes them risky

Portable toilets can become hazardous in bad weather because they are relatively light for their size, especially when not full, and can shift, tip or even float if water rises around them. Strong runoff can also push them across hard surfaces. Once moving, they can be hard to stop safely.

Floodwater itself is dangerous even when it looks shallow. It can hide kerbs, open drains, potholes, sharp debris and fast moving currents. It may also contain sewage, fuel, chemicals and other contaminants. If a portable toilet looks unstable, surrounded by water, or has moved from its usual position, the safest choice is to keep clear and alert the site manager, event staff, property owner or local authority rather than trying to steady it yourself.

Useful safety tips around temporary toilets and flooding

Before using a portable toilet, check that it is standing on firm, level ground and does not rock when the door is opened. Make sure the latch works and that the door can be opened easily from inside. If there is a flood warning, heavy rain, or visible water pooling around the base, use an indoor facility if one is available.

More broadly, treat any moving floodwater as unsafe. Do not walk or drive through it unless authorities have said a route is open and safe. Move to higher ground early, keep children away from temporary structures in stormy weather, and avoid touching floodwater with bare skin if possible. If you do come into contact with it, wash thoroughly, clean contaminated clothing and footwear, and seek medical advice if you have a cut, feel unwell, or may have swallowed water.