A man has died while attempting to rescue a toddler who fell into a domestic well in Abule Egba, Lagos State, as efforts to recover the child’s body proved unsuccessful.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, October 20, at No. 4, Paul Street, inward Agbe Road, after the toddler, whose mother worked as a cleaner in the compound, reportedly fell into the well accidentally.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) disclosed the incident in a statement signed by its Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu.
According to the agency, it received a distress call at 9:48 a.m. and immediately deployed a response team from its Igando Base to the scene.
LASEMA said a member of the Hausa community in the area entered the well in an attempt to save the child but became trapped and was later recovered dead.
The agency, working alongside the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps and the Nigeria Police Force, subsequently launched a coordinated rescue operation.
However, the depth of the well, high water levels and thick mud at the bottom hampered efforts to recover the toddler.
LASEMA said attempts to remove the water encountered difficulties, prompting the deployment of a specialist local diver to conduct a final search.
The diver reportedly concluded that the child had sunk deep into the mud and could not be retrieved. Only one of the toddler’s shoes was recovered during the operation.
Following an expert assessment and consultations with the affected family and community leaders, the agency announced the conclusion of the search operation, with all emergency responders returning to their respective bases.
LASEMA confirmed that the body of the deceased rescuer had been handed over to his relatives and members of the Hausa community for burial in accordance with their customs.
Oke-Osanyintolu expressed condolences to the bereaved families and the Hausa community, commending the man for his courage and willingness to risk his life in an attempt to save the toddler.
The Lagos State Government, under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, also extended its condolences to the families affected by the tragedy.
The agency urged residents to ensure that wells and other potentially dangerous openings in residential premises are properly covered, raised and secured, particularly in homes where young children live.
It also advised residents to contact emergency responders through the toll-free numbers 767 or 112 during emergencies instead of attempting dangerous rescue operations that could result in further loss of life.
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