Elderly Woman Rescued After Falling Into 10m Deep Pit, Waiting Over 10 Hours for Help

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture from responders.

 

An elderly woman, aged 71, was rescued in Prachin Buri, after falling into a 10-metre-deep pit while walking home. She remained trapped for over 10 hours before being discovered and rescued by local authorities and volunteers.

 

On the evening of December 16, at around 20:00 rescue volunteers from Sawang Bampen Thammasathan Foundation received a report from villagers about a missing person who was believed to have fallen into a deep pit. Responders immediately rushed to the scene.

 

The pit was reported to be 5 metres square  and 10 metres deep, containing water about 1.2 meters deep. Rescuers called out during the search and heard a faint response from the bottom of the pit. Villagers and rescue volunteers used a 15-metre-long ladder to descend and retrieve the elderly woman. After securing her to a rescue stretcher, they carefully lifted her to safety in a challenging operation that lasted about 30 minutes.

 

Mrs. Samran Owatsuwan, 69, the younger sister of the victim, explained that her sister, Mrs. Samroeng Owatsuwan, often walked around the area. On the day of the incident, Mrs. Samran returned from the market at around 10:00 and noticed her sister was missing. Initially, she assumed her sister had gone to visit relatives. By 17:00 when her sister still had not returned, she alerted neighbours and began searching. At around 20:00 they discovered that her sister had fallen into the pit.

 

Police volunteer Mr. Monchai Panyatano, 45, stated that during the search, they found the victim’s shoe near the pit, prompting them to call out and receive a response. They immediately notified family members and rescue teams.

 

Mr. Suthiphong Yodked, a rescue volunteer, reported that upon arrival, they found Mrs. Samroeng floating in chest-deep water at the bottom of the pit. Rescuers used a stretcher and ropes to carefully lift her out while providing initial first aid.

 

Despite the harrowing ordeal, Mrs. Samroeng, though exhausted, suffered no major injuries. She explained that she had been walking home when she accidentally fell into the pit. Rescue teams transported her to Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital for a thorough medical examination and to allow her to rest.

 

Authorities praised the efforts of local residents and rescue teams for their swift response and coordination in saving the elderly woman.

 

-- 2024-12-17