An American tourist fell into an uncovered manhole in the ‘sin city’ of Thailand. He was rescued 4 hours later, but he said it felt like days.

• Johnathan Vaimaona, 36, fell into an uncovered manhole in Pattaya, Thailand, on May 12.

• He was unable to climb back up and was trapped in the sewers for 4 hours.

• He was rescued after a security officer who was walking past heard his cries for help.

An American tourist was rescued from the sewers in what’s often referred to as Thailand’s “Sin City,” after being trapped for four hours.

Johnathan Vaimaona, 36, fell into an uncovered manhole in Pattaya, around 90 miles south of Bangkok, on Friday, per Newsflare.

As he was unable to climb back out, Vaimaona shouted out for help from the underground sewage system for what felt like days, Vaimaona told Newsflare.

The stranded tourist was rescued after security officer Chalee Boonsri, 26, heard his pleas. “I was on my way to a convenience store for a drink when I suddenly heard a foreigner shouting. I looked around but didn’t see anyone there,” said Boonsri per Newsflare.

“But when I looked at the pavement, I saw a man peeking at me from the drain,” Boonsri said.

Rescuers and residents helped lift the drain covers and pulled Vaimaona out of the hole said to be 10-feet deep. He was shirtless and covered in sludge, and said he could not recall much of anything besides falling into the uncovered manhole, per Newsflare.

“I come from Hawaii. I fell. I was in front of the hotel and then I just came up and I don’t know where I’m at,” said Vaimaona, after he was hosed down and given a drink, per Newsflare.

The American tourist was also unable to recall the name of the hotel where he had checked in with his girlfriend and could only describe it as the one “with the boats,” per Newsflare.

The police, however, discovered inconsistencies with Vaimaona’s statements through further investigation and verifying his entry documents. The man was said to be speaking in a confusing manner, per Newsflare.

Local authorities said that more thorough investigations into the incident will be conducted, per Newsflare.

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Pattaya has been dubbed Thailand’s “Sin City” as it’s home to a vibrant nightlife and sex industry, though officials have been making efforts to eliminate prostitution from the city, per Bangkok Post.

Pattaya Walking Street is often referred to as the city’s red-light district, a place filled with bright neon lights from the many bars and clubs that line the street.

Insider has reached out to both Vaimaona and the Pattaya Tourist Police for comment.

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