An official of the Lagos Sate Fire Service on Saturday lost consciousness inside a well in the Ijegun area of the state while trying to rescue a victim.
The official was said to have fallen inside the well after the rope bearing himself and the victim snapped . He was said to have subsequently fainted, throwing the rescue operation into panic.
Other firefighters quickly mobilised themselves and rescued the unnamed firefighter. He was rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.
Earlier, a plumber, identified as Tobi Akintoye, was digging a domestic well for residents of Funmilayo Street when the well caved in on him around 12 noon.
The 35-year-old was said to have died soon after when help did not come his way on time.
A residents alerted members of the state fire service from the Ikotun station, who promptly responded with men and equipment for the rescue operation.
It was learnt that one of the men was let down through a rope to bring out the victim.
A source said, “He was bringing the man up when the rope he tied to his body snapped and he fell back into the well. He broke his leg and fainted inside the well.
“Other firefighters later brought him out and he was quickly taken in a vehicle to LASUTH for treatment.”
It was learnt that the corpse of the dead plumber was also brought out and handed to the police who deposited it in a mortuary in the area.
A witness told reporters that it was possible that the injured victim was the driver of the vehicle.
He said, “Those that came with the truck were not many. But why I think it was the driver that fell was because about an hour after the man was rushed to the hospital, the fire truck was still at the scene of the incident.
“The man was seriously injured and I hope he did not die. It’s part of the risk of their job.”
The Director of the Lagos State Fire Service, Rasak Fadipe, said the victim was in stable condition.
He said, “His condition is stable and he is responding to treatment, so there is no problem.
“I just wish to repeat the earlier warning to residents of Lagos that when digging your well, you need to take precautions to avoid unnecessary loss of lives.”
