This doesn't even pass the SMELL test - duct tape?
Get real ...
I sort of doubt the guy got a really good look. This was after dark I belive. Maybe it was metal strapping, which might look like duct tape under poor lighting. But duct tape would probably work. It's not like it has to hold for very long.
A few years ago, my hubby and I were wondering just how many stories were actually true in like the Weekly World News or some silly publication like that. We picked an article about an airplane down in Argentina that was hit by a bird, and they fixed the wing with 'duct tape'. The plane then went on its merry way. We said, "Yea, right, sure they did". So, we called the company. Manco Duck tape, and asked them if the story was true. Guess what, it was absolutely true. They even sent us a roll of Duck tape.
I won't even get into the story about a Dutch guy we know that refers to duct tape as McGuyver.