A 56-year-old man narrowly escaped death after falling into an 80-foot well in the Ikotun area of Lagos State.
He was rescued by operatives of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS).
The incident occurred over the weekend and was confirmed on Tuesday in a statement by LSFRS Senior Public Affairs Officer, Maria Fadairo.
According to the statement, the man was carrying out work inside the well when he became trapped.
The Ejigbo Station of the fire service received a distress call and promptly responded to the scene at House 12, Aiyeola Street, off Governor Road, Molad Bus Stop, Ikotun, under the Ikotun-Igando Local Council Development Area.
“On arrival, firefighters discovered a male adult, estimated to be 56 years old, trapped in a well about 80 feet deep,” Fadairo said.
She explained that a preliminary investigation pointed to negligence as the likely cause of the incident.
The victim was rescued through a coordinated effort by the fire service team.
Fadairo also emphasized the importance of notifying relevant authorities before undertaking dangerous tasks. “The well is located behind a bungalow housing eight rooms on a property covering roughly 648 square metres,” she added.
The Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, advised residents to always contact the agency before engaging in potentially hazardous activities.
A similar incident was reported in Oyo State on June 8, when a 68-year-old man fell into a well at Mobolorunduro Mosque, Molefalafia, Oke-Ado in Ibadan, while trying to retrieve his mobile phone.
He was also rescued alive by firefighters and handed over to his family for medical attention.