Seven-meter fall

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The fire department rescued a four-year-old child from a well in Lower Austria on Saturday. Further details have since emerged.(Bild: APA/FF MAISSAU)

The fire department rescued a four-year-old child from a well in Maissau (Hollabrunn district) on Saturday. The child had fallen into the seven-meter deep well while playing with other children. A member of the fire department abseiled down to the boy and pulled him up in a sling.

The helpers were alerted late on Saturday afternoon. "Child in well - four years old" was the message, the Hollabrunn district fire brigade command (Lower Austria) announced in a press release. The children had probably taken the cover off the well while playing and the four-year-old then fell through an opening measuring around 30 centimetres while running around.

Upon arrival, contact was immediately made with the injured child. "The emergency services tried to calm the brave boy down," it said.

The firefighters used a crane arm.(Bild: FF Maissau)

Leaving the hospital again
As rescue via a ladder was not possible, a crane arm was used and a member of the fire department abseiled down to the little boy from Lower Austria. "He received brief first aid while still in the well," said head of operations Klemens Kaltenbrunner. The child suffered minor injuries such as abrasions. He was flown to hospital for further examinations and was able to leave on Sunday.

A helicopter took the child to hospital.(Bild: FF Maissau)

More than 50 firefighters in action
More than 50 members of the fire department with ten vehicles, the police and rescue services were deployed. The cooperation was "really excellent", said section fire brigade commander Josef Baumeister.

Meanwhile, the police began an investigation. They are investigating whether the duty of supervision was breached.