Rescuers save muralist from Dunedin water tower

A muralist hired to paint turtle imagery on a Dunedin water tower believes he was stuck in his basket for about an hour before rescuers could safely bring him back down to the ground.

The man, Tom Stovall, said he was wrapping up for the day because of rain in the area. As he was heading down, the equipment he uses had somehow stopped functioning.

Dunedin Fire and Rescue confirmed a call for help went out around 2 p.m. from the area of Curlew Road and Bayshore Boulevard. Stovall was seen just "hanging there" for a time, authorities added.