A four-year-old boy from Texas spent more than six hours trapped in a narrow well, before he was rescued by firefighters who had to drill into the soil to get him out.
Authorities in Garceño, Texas, responded to a report at around 4:40pm on Tuesday that a boy had fallen down a dry well at a ranch property, according to the Starr County Sheriff's Office.
Members of multiple different fire departments aided in the rescue of the boy, alongside the sheriff’s office and the Starr County Memorial Hospital Emergency Services.
In order to rescue the youngster, the firefighters had to dig him out from the narrow pit, by carefully chiselling into the soil with a drill, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
He was finally rescued at around 10:40pm, around six hours after the mission began.
As the child was pulled out of the hole, the rescue team was applauded, according to Mission Fire Department assistant fire chief Robert Alvarez.
The City of Mission, Texas, said in a post on Facebook on Wednesday: “So proud of our Mission firefighters and all first responders that helped to rescue the child from the hole after six long hours”.
It added: “The pit was only 8-10 inches in diameter. It's a Christmas miracle!”
The boy was alert and communicated with first responders throughout his time in the well and after he was rescued, according to CNN.
“Through prayers and actions from everyone involved a little boy lives today,” Starr County sheriff Rene Fuentes wrote on social media on Tuesday night.
After he was rescued, the boy was flown to a local hospital. The sheriff's office confirmed in a statement on Wednesday that he is undergoing tests but is in a stable condition.
The office added: “Last night proved to be a testament of our community and neighbouring communities’ unity and sincere concern for each other.”
