Man dies trying to save toddler from well in Lagos

A man has died while trying to rescue a two-year-old child who fell into a well in Abule Egba, Lagos State.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency shared this news in a statement by its Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, on Tuesday. The incident happened on Paul Street, near Agbe Road in Abule Egba.

Oke-Osanyintolu said the toddler fell into the well accidentally. The child’s mother works as a cleaner in the area. A community member went down to save the child but got stuck and could not climb out.

The agency got a distress call at 9:48 AM and sent a response team from the Igando Base. Unfortunately, they found the man already dead. “The gallant rescuer who attempted the rescue was recovered deceased,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.

The man’s body was given to his family and members of the Hausa community for burial according to their customs. The response team, along with the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, and the Nigeria Police Force, started coordinated rescue efforts as soon as they arrived.

Despite the efforts, they could not find the toddler in the well. The Permanent Secretary explained that the high water level and thick mud at the bottom made the rescue difficult. They tried to remove the water but faced challenges, which led to bringing in a specialist diver for a final search.

“A specialist local diver was eventually deployed for a final search and confirmed that the toddler’s body had gone deep into the mud and could no longer be recovered, with only a single shoe recovered,” the statement noted.

The operation ended after expert assessment and talks with the family and community leaders. LASEMA expressed condolences to the family of the deceased rescuer and the Hausa community. They praised his attempt to save the child as an act of uncommon bravery.

The Permanent Secretary advised residents to make sure wells and other openings at home are properly covered and secured, especially in homes with young children. He also urged people to call emergency responders using toll-free numbers 767 and 112 instead of trying risky rescue operations that could lead to more injuries.