Toddler Rescued After Falling Into Sump Pump Hole
SECURITY, Colo. (CBS4)- A toddler is recovering after he fell 15 feet down a sump pump hole. Quick-thinking firefighters are credited with his rescue and minor injuries.
The 2-year-old fell into the narrow hole outside his home in Security, a community located just south of Colorado Springs, near Powers and Milton Proby. The water quickly rose up to the boy's armpits and firefighters had to act quickly.
According to his father, the boy found the sump pump while playing in the family's backyard. He apparently removed the cover without help and stepped in. He fell 15 feet down into the water.
The family moved to the home three months ago and told investigators they didn't realize how easy it would be to access the hole.
While waiting for firefighters, neighbor Angela Schmitt grabbed her flashlight and shined it down the hole to keep the toddler from being too scared.
"We just wanted to shine the flashlight down to give him something to focus on. We just wanted to keep him calm and keep his head above water," Schmitt said. "For being 2 years old and stuck...he was really calm and we just kept trying to talk to him."
By the time firefighters arrived, the boy was starting to get a little frustrated.
"He was scared, he was crying, it was dark, the water was cold," said Security Fire Department Captain Darin Meek.
Meek said firefighters first threw a rope to the little boy, but he was unable to grab hold. The rescuers knew then they would have to take a different approach.
"We were afraid the water was going to continue to rise. So we took a look at all the individuals we had skinny enough to fit down into the hole," said Meek.
Once he took off his gear, Meek was able to squeeze in.
"We tied a rope around my ankle and dropped me headfirst down into the hole. As I was getting closer to him, I was talking to him and he was starting to calm down," said Meek.
Meek grabbed the little boy and his crew pulled the two out.
"He was awake, he was crying. Never once did he go underneath the water. Never once did he stop breathing. So with a good team effort, we were able to get him out quickly," said Meek.
The boy was rushed to the hospital where he was treated for hypothermia. He is expected to make a full recovery.
Firefighters said it's very unusual for a sump pump hole in the backyard to be so big.
"This particular setup I've never seen before. I've never seen a sump hole that big outside the home where a child could be at risk of falling inside. This was new to us, we've never seen anything like this before," said Meek.
The boy's father said he will anchor the cover onto the hole opening so no one can fall down the hold again.
