Teen Falls 40 Feet Down A Well, Clings Onto Pipes Till Rescuers Arrive

A 14-year-old in South Carolina plummeted 40 feet down a well and remained stuck until rescuers arrived. The teenager managed to keep himself above the water until the rescue crew safely brought him to dry land.

Firefighters arrived at the scene near Pacolet Highway in Gaffney shortly after being informed about a person that had fallen into a well just before 8 p.m. Saturday, according to the Kansas City Star.

Rescuers arrived to find the teenager clinging to pipes inside the well, the Gaffney City Fire Department wrote on Facebook.

“The patient was treading water and able to hold on to pipes in the well to hold himself above water,” the department said. “Crews were able to make voice contact with the patient while crews began to set up for a technical rescue.”

The rescue team lowered a firefighter into the well and brought the teenager out by around 8:24 p.m.

“The patient was transferred to EMS and subsequently transported to the hospital for what appeared to be non life-threatening injuries,” the Facebook post continued. “Our firefighters train often for these scenarios, that are not routine but they do happen.”

The department noted that they were “proud” of the crew’s professionalism in safely rescuing the teen.

Training Officer Doug Bowers said it is unclear how deep the well is. Bowers noted that the teenager fell inside after the lid on top of the cement well shaft crumbled, EMS1 reported.

The teenager “jumped on top of a cement well shaft and the lid crumbled sending the child some 50 ft down a 24" shaft landing in water of unknown depth. Upon our arrival he was clinging to the pump conduit trying to keep his head above water,” Bowers said on Facebook.

Bowers added he had to give the rescuers some praise and wrote: “Everyone had a job or roll [sic] and they all did a great job to bring this rescue to a successful ending!!!!”

Several people commented on the post put up by the Gaffney City Fire Department about the teenager’s rescue.

One woman, Amy McCombs, commented and claimed the teenager was her grandson.

“This was My Grandson Jaylen Byars. Thank You To God Above & Thanks To Gaffney City Fire Department For Saving His Life...Y'all Please Keep Him & His Mom Amy Murray In Your Prayers,” McCombs wrote.

“Thank you all so much,” wrote Facebook user Krystle Jackson. “That young man is a good friend of mines [sic] son. Thankfully he is back at home tonight resting. He was kept overnight for observation but walked out on his own two feet today with a smile on his beautiful face.”