A Saskatoon Loraas recycling truck driver was shocked when he heard noise coming from the back of his truck and found a man inside Monday.

According to the Saskatoon Fire Department, the driver heard noise coming from the truck’s recycling compartment while traveling on College Drive following a pickup truck at Clarence Avenue and 8th Street.

The driver stopped and found someone in the back with the crushed recycling, then called 9-1-1 for help, said Rob Hogan, deputy chief of operations and communications for Saskatoon Fire Department emergency.

“We can only assume that this individual was in a trash can that was picked up and thrown into his truck,” Hogan said.

Hogan said that although the man was safely removed from the recycling center, it appeared he was inside the truck during a compression cycle.

This is where recycled materials are pressed to compact them and make them smaller.

Hogan had no information on the man’s current condition, but said he had been transferred to the hospital.

Hogan said it was unclear why the man was inside the recycling bin or how he got there.

“We’ve dealt with this one, at least once more this year, and it’s happened on and off over the years. So I wouldn’t say it’s not common, but we find sometimes individuals in large bins, in trucks or even in city trash cans.