Story By: John Feng, Sub-Editor:  Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report

AsiaWire

This is the moment a fireman is sent down a narrow well to rescue a pensioner trapped more than 15 feet underground in deep water.

The Zhecheng County fire service, in China’s central province of Henan, were sent to the town of Huxiang after local residents reported the unnamed pensioner stranded at the bottom of a narrow borehole.

Rescuers who attended the scene of the accident on 11th March said the woman in her 60s was more than 5 metres (16 feet) underground, with only her head remaining about water.

The challenging rescue was carried out when firefighters set up a tripod above the 80-centimetre (31.5-inch) wide borehole opening and sent one of their smaller team members into the structure.

Video shows a uniformed fireman being lowered into the ground before returning once more after having secured ropes around the elderly woman’s wrists.

Due to the narrow well structure, rescuers were unable to tie ropes or a harness around the woman’s torso, reports said.

As the 20-minute operation ends, the pensioner can be seen re-emerging from the well and being escorted away.

The woman suffered no serious injuries but was sent to a local hospital for a check-up.

The ViralTab page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.