Toddler fallen down 100m hole and the rescue efforts

[Ofitck]

I searched but couldn’t find a thread on this. It’s one of the most harrowing news stories I’ve read in a while and I can’t keep my mind off it for long.

Has anyone been following the rescue efforts for the two year old who fell down a 25cm x 100m borehole. I can’t stop thinking about that poor poor family, he fell down last Sunday. They are frantically drilling hoping he may still be alive. His older brother died suddenly of a heart attack aged 3 whilst running on a beach not long ago too.

www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46876507

Apparently they’re hoping to reach where they think he is tomorrow.

It’s been so long. It’s just awful.

If he is alive he's going to be traumatised, poor little mite,

I wish I hadn’t read this today. It’s actually keeping me awake tonight. That poor little boy and his family. So upsetting.

El Pais seems to be giving regular, detailed updates.

They are only starting on the horizontal tunnel today. Still saying another 24hrs

elpais.com/elpais/2019/01/22/inenglish/1548144373_303448.html

And that's only where they 'think' he is ☹️

I've been trying to follow this story but there doesn't seem to be much in the news. It's horrific. That poor poor little boy and his family. Just the thought is so distressing. I hope there is some news soon.

Sorry to say there is no way he is alive.

It's been too long hasn't it, he's had no water

I don’t think he can be alive. I just hope he didn’t suffer too long. I hope his poor family get some closure soon.

Why on Earth wasn’t that hole covered up! Absolutely shocking.

They've updated the previous article I linked with this... more delays.

Experts who drilled a 70-meter vertical shaft running parallel to the borehole will now be forced to widen the diameter, due to unexpected difficulties inserting the pipes brought in for cladding. These technicians would not provide an estimate of when this new task might be completed.

There is not much UK coverage at all. I've had to go on twitter and only because of a PP did I come across El Pais and now keep checking that regularly.

Also an article about the investigation. Apparently there was no permission given for the borehole in the first place. It shouldn't have even been there!!

elpais.com/elpais/2019/01/22/inenglish/1548161678_636501.html

Did he definitely fall down there, is it right they haven’t heard him at all?

One of the articles said they found a cup and snack down there, and also a hair? (Which I find odd to find outdoors in a borehole so easily)

This was another detailed article by El Pais. It's quite a difficult read though due to the detail.
elpais.com/elpais/2019/01/21/inenglish/1548077198_992757.html

It says the dad heard crying initially but nothing more. I can't see how he could possibly still be alive and if he has died, i actually hope it was from the fall rather than the alternative. It's just so awful. I keep thinking about it regularly throughout the day. DS is 18 months and just doesn't bare thinking about.

@Coppermine I know what you mean. I have a baby DD and this kept me up last night thinking about it. I’ve even been researching boreholes. There are common everywhere! Even in people’s gardens when rural! So scary.

There are some strange details though. Like the cup and hair. And the expert who says it would be impossible for anyone to fall down a hole of this diameter.

I did wonder how he could fit down a hole that small. He was running away so surely one foot would fall down the hole first or his arms would go out to save him?

I think the hole Jessica McClure fell down was smaller, I think they said in the film 15cm but I'd need to double check. She was 18 months so younger, but I think I read in the article he was small for a 2 year old too?

However, I have similar feelings that something is not sitting quite right with it all. Hopefully the investigation will get some answers.

It was 8 inches / 20cm, so similar size. She ended up in a split position.

Latest update, the vertical rescue hole has been resized (completed this morning) and they begin work on the horizontal one to connect to the borehole. It's 4 meters and expected to take 24hrs

elpais.com/elpais/2019/01/23/inenglish/1548231368_142142.html

Can you survive a fall that depth and poor lad if he did survive how would he manage without food or water for over 10 days, it just doesn't bare thinking about. If he has survived by some miracle I hope he is in a coma so he isn't frightened, cold and hungry :(

I don't think he could have survived (if indeed he was alive before he went into the hole). I think it is a recovery operation now rather than a rescue one ☹️

The article states they are prepared to try harder to find him. My gut is telling me that he is probably gone by now. I doubt that a small toddler could realistically survive down there for that long without anything to eat and drink. elpais.com/elpais/2019/01/23/inenglish/1548231368_142142.html
I admit- I've not been following this story carefully. I have one question to ask though , why was he unsupervised near the hole?

The family was having a picnic, while his Mum was on the phone he ran off and the Dad saw him fall down this tiny hole. They said the hole was uncovered but the business owner/workmen who dug the hole insisted they had covered it up 🤔

11 days without water is too long to survive surely?

The dad's relative (cousin?) was also there and was actually nearer to the little mite when it happened but it all happened too quickly and she couldn't reach him in time.

Poor, poor little boy and his family. It's horrific. This story and the one about the little boy in the footwell of the car have really upset me.