Teen Boy Rescued From 11-Inch Drain Pipe After Falling In While Sledding On Golf Course

Firefighters in Kansas took to social media on Tuesday to answer questions from people who were in disbelief after a teenager was rescued from a drainage pipe that was just 11 inches wide over the weekend.

Newton Fire and EMS said crews responded Saturday to a report that a child was stuck in a hole on a golf course at Sand Creek Station. They arrived to find “just the fingertips” of a 15-year-old boy visible at the ground-level opening of the drain pipe.

The boy had been sledding with a friend in the freshly fallen snow when he fell in, and his friend was able to get help from a neighbor, who called 911.

Social media users were initially skeptical that a 15-year-old boy could have fallen into what appeared in a photo to be such a small hole, with some suggesting the age must have been a typo and some even accusing the department of making the story up “for attention.” The fire department said Tuesday it went back to the scene to measure the pipe opening, and it was just 11 inches wide.

“Our priority was getting him out, not how he managed to get in. Family members have since said that he fell feet first from his sled,” the fire department said. “It was fortunate he didn’t fall farther down. Two firefighters were able to grab his hands and pull him out by hand.”

Fire officials said the drain pipe “should have had a metal grate covering it,” and that the grate was found near the hole and replaced after the rescue.

“We posted the story to emphasize the importance of the good ol’ buddy system,” the fire department said. “This story could have had a tragic ending if this young man hadn’t had a friend with him to call for help. Especially in extreme cold conditions, it’s so important to have someone with you in case of an emergency.”