Copyright by WKRN - All rights reserved

WKRN web staff - NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) - A 53-year old Nashville man was rescued Sunday after he got stuck in a storm drain four days ago near Centennial Park.

Brian Williams, who was attending a swim meet at the Centennial Sportsplex off 25th Avenue North, heard the man calling for help around 12:30 p.m.

"He was yelling, 'Help! Help!' sort of repeatedly," Williams told News 2.

Copyright by WKRN - All rights reserved Brian Williams

Copyright by WKRN - All rights reserved Brian Williams

It didn't take long for him and his family to find the man stuck in the drain. Click here to view photos of the rescue.

"We used our flashlights from our cellphones and we could see him, but he was back in the pipeline a good ways, probably about 10 feet," Williams explained.

The man was elated when he heard Williams and his family come to his aid.

"He said, 'Praise God. Thank you. I have been down here forever.' And he was just very happy at that point," Williams added.

Firefighters had to dig into the ground and break into the cement pipe to free the man. Officials told News 2 the man was about 6 or 7 feet from the pipe's opening.

The ordeal, which included using a 4-foot pry bar to get oxygen tot he man as they worked to free him, to over two hours.

Copyright by WKRN - All rights reserved The unidentified man could have the storm drain in this above-ground concrete entrance with a ladder down to the pipe near the Lentz Public Health Center.

Copyright by WKRN - All rights reserved The unidentified man could have the storm drain in this above-ground concrete entrance with a ladder down to the pipe near the Lentz Public Health Center.

A firefighter also sat at the opening of the pipe and spoke to the man through the ordeal, explaining what was happening to keep him from panicking.

An employee with Metro Parks told News 2 said the man had entered the pipe somewhere along Charlotte Avenue last Thursday.

The man then got stuck due to a bend in the narrow drain pipe, which ran next to the Sportsplex's tennis courts.

He told firefighters that he climbed in the pipe because he has always been "adventurous."

The man, whose identity was not released, suffered cuts to his body and appeared to be dehydrated. He was immediately given oxygen once he was free and taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation and treatment.

It was a situation that could have ended much worse.

"If we had some rain, you know obviously he was in a storm drain, so it could have ended very badly for him. I think he had a guardian angel overlooking him and he was able to get out of there alive," Williams said.