In an attempt to save the family dogs that had already fallen in an abandoned mine shaft, a California youngster became trapped and needed to be rescued by a specialized crew, according to fire officials.
Just before 7 p.m. on Saturday, the 15-year-old was caught 15 to 20 feet below the surface following a well-meaning attempt to rescue two cherished puppies who had somehow fallen in themselves, according to fire officials.
Despite being unable to climb back out, the tenacious kid managed to descend the shaft. In addition to Grass Valley Fire partner agencies, rescue personnel from the Nevada County Consolidated Fire District were summoned and hurried to the scene.
As soon as the rescuers reached the scene, they immediately got to work.
“Safety was our top priority,” Fire Chief Jason Robitaille stated in a press release. “We implemented a systematic approach to bring all of the victims to the surface safely.”
They evaluated the region and determined that they needed to do a “vertical rope rescue”—a sophisticated kind of rescue involving nylon ropes, intricate rigging, and carabiners—because of the hazardous terrain and the depth of the shaft.
“After 1 hour of careful maneuvering, the teenager and both dogs were successfully brought to the surface without serious injury,” Robitaille stated.
The moment one of the cherished family pets is hauled out of the well using a complex system of ropes and pulleys fastened to its harness and dropped gently and safely to the earth is captured in a touching film.
The workers are seen in the video crouching near the abandoned pit entrance as they gently attempt to remove the dog while the radio crackles. As they pull the dog to safety, one employee yells, “good speed,” and another follows suit.
A woman off-camera squeals with pleasure and joy when the puppy is safe and wagging its tail: “I’m so happy!”
After examining the teenager on the spot, paramedics concluded they were unhurt. According to Robitaille, the dogs received treatment for “minor dehydration.”
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Robitaille urged locals to report additional abandoned shafts, saying, “We’re grateful for the quick thinking of the initial reporting party and the professional response of our firefighters. This incident is a reminder of the importance of avoiding unsecured structures and calling for help immediately in emergencies.”
Last March, rescuers in Texas had to spend several days rescuing a stray basset hound mix that had become stuck in an abandoned well beneath a house.
According to investigators, the individual who rented the house heard a mild barking and at first assumed it was coming from a neighbor. Rescuers arrived and hoisted the dog 12 feet to safety after he discovered the frantic barking was coming from underneath him.
