A California teen had to be rescued by a specialized team after becoming trapped in an abandoned mine shaft trying to save the family dogs that had already fallen in, according to fire officials.
The 15-year-old became stuck 15 to 20 feet down just before 7 p.m. Saturday after a well-intentioned attempt to save two beloved pups who had somehow fallen in themselves, according to fire officials.
The determined teenager climbed down the shaft, but could not climb back out. Rescue workers from the Nevada County Consolidated Fire District were called and rushed to the scene along with partner agencies from Grass Valley Fire.
The rescuers arrived at the scene and quickly leapt into action.
“Safety was our top priority,” Fire Chief Jason Robitaille said in a press release. “We implemented a systematic approach to bring all of the victims to the surface safely.”
They assessed the area and based on the dangerous terrain and the depth of the shaft, realized they needed to execute what they called a “vertical rope rescue” — a technical type of rescue using nylon ropes, complex rigging and carabiners.
“After 1 hour of careful maneuvering, the teenager and both dogs were successfully brought to the surface without serious injury,” Robitaille said.
A heartwarming video recorded the moment one of the precious family pets is lifted out of the well with an elaborate contraption of ropes and pulleys attached to its harness and dropped gently and safely to the ground.
The clip shows the workers crouched around the abandoned shaft entrance, while amid the crackle of the radio, they carefully work on getting the dog out. One worker shouts, “good speed,” and another responds in kind as they haul the dog up to safety.
Once the dog is safe and wagging its tail, a woman off camera squeals with delight and relief: “I’m so happy!”
Paramedics examined the teen at the scene and determined they were unharmed. The dogs were treated for “minor dehydration,” Robitaille said.
“We’re grateful for the quick thinking of the initial reporting party and the professional response of our firefighters,” Robitaille said, encouraging residents to report other abandoned shafts. “This incident is a reminder of the importance of avoiding unsecured structures and calling for help immediately in emergencies.”
In Texas last March, rescue workers had to save a stray basset hound mix that had become trapped in an abandoned well under a home for several days.
The man renting the house heard faint barking, according to officials, and initially thought it was coming from a neighbor. But once he realized the desperate barking was coming from beneath him, rescue workers came and lifted the hound 12 feet to safety.
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