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20 December 2024
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Boy, age three, recovering after rescue from borehole near Bloemfontein
A huge rescue operation was conducted on Friday, 13 December, when Mpho Pienaar (age 3) fell into a borehole on a farm in Bainsvlei. Mpho went missing at around 13h00 on Friday; the boy’s father realised something was wrong at around 17:00 when he still had not seen his son. He went looking for Mpho and located him at 19h00, discovering the boy fell into a narrow hole of roughly eight metres deep and could not get out. SARZA (Search and Rescue ZA) Free State unit, alerted by the Bainsvlei Residents Forum and various other emergency services, were deployed to a scene of a young child who had accidentally fallen approximately 8m deep into a narrow borehole located approximately 30km NW of Bloemfontein. The hole posed significant challenges to the rescue operation due to its confined space, narrow diameter (approximately 200mm) and precarious structural condition.
Upon arrival, SARZA Free State established a Mobile Command Post and first responders assessed the bore hole’s structure and determined the child's position below the surface.
First responders, including firefighters, paramedics and specialised rescue teams, immediately began assessing and preparing the scene. The child was responsive and audible. The area surrounding the hole was secured to prevent further accidents or collapses. Equipment such as ropes and excavation tools and machinery were brought to the site by farmers, members of the public and local businesses. Oxygen was supplied by medical experts to ensure the child’s safety during the operation. Rescuers used a rope harness, to secure the child whilst digging a parallel hole. A trained rescuer was lowered into the hole to execute the rescue.
After working throughout the night, the child was successfully rescued at approximately 05h35am on 14 December 2024. Immediate medical evaluation was conducted by paramedics on-scene, followed by transportation to hospital for further observation and care. The well was sealed immediately after the rescue to prevent future accidents.
The successful rescue of the child was a testament to the prompt coordination and expertise of all the emergency response teams and members of the public and local businesses. SARZA Free State is grateful to have the expert emergency service providers including FSCoeC in the Free State.
Special thanks to Case Bloemfontein for providing us with a monster excavator straight from their sales floor at no cost!
The toddler that was rescued from an abandoned borehole in Bainsvlei, Bloemfontein, this weekend is in a critical but stable condition, receiving treatment in the Pelonomi Academic Hospital.
Source: SARZA, News 24
Upon arrival, SARZA Free State established a Mobile Command Post and first responders assessed the bore hole’s structure and determined the child's position below the surface.
First responders, including firefighters, paramedics and specialised rescue teams, immediately began assessing and preparing the scene. The child was responsive and audible. The area surrounding the hole was secured to prevent further accidents or collapses. Equipment such as ropes and excavation tools and machinery were brought to the site by farmers, members of the public and local businesses. Oxygen was supplied by medical experts to ensure the child’s safety during the operation. Rescuers used a rope harness, to secure the child whilst digging a parallel hole. A trained rescuer was lowered into the hole to execute the rescue.
After working throughout the night, the child was successfully rescued at approximately 05h35am on 14 December 2024. Immediate medical evaluation was conducted by paramedics on-scene, followed by transportation to hospital for further observation and care. The well was sealed immediately after the rescue to prevent future accidents.
The successful rescue of the child was a testament to the prompt coordination and expertise of all the emergency response teams and members of the public and local businesses. SARZA Free State is grateful to have the expert emergency service providers including FSCoeC in the Free State.
Special thanks to Case Bloemfontein for providing us with a monster excavator straight from their sales floor at no cost!
The toddler that was rescued from an abandoned borehole in Bainsvlei, Bloemfontein, this weekend is in a critical but stable condition, receiving treatment in the Pelonomi Academic Hospital.
Source: SARZA, News 24