Fell Into a Well Hidden by Bushes... The Fate of a Chinese Woman Who Survived 54 Hours by Digging Stones and Clinging to the Wall

Dug Out Stones to Make a Temporary Foothold and Endured
Dramatically Rescued After Surviving 54 Hours in the Well

A Chinese woman fell into a deep well while taking a walk, but managed to survive for 54 hours by digging out stones to create a makeshift foothold and clinging to the gaps in the well wall until she was dramatically rescued. On September 28, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that on September 13 in Quanzhou, Fujian Province, a 48-year-old woman, referred to as Ms. A, unexpectedly fell into a deep well while walking in the forest.

A Chinese woman fell into a well while taking a walk and was dramatically rescued. SCMP

When Ms. A did not return home, her family began searching for her themselves but were unable to locate her. The following day, the family requested help from the Jinjiang Ruitong Blue Sky Rescue Center, a civilian rescue organization, and the search began immediately. A rescue team of ten people deployed a thermal imaging drone to start the search. At around 1:45 p.m. that same day, they detected faint cries for help coming from a well hidden in the bushes. The rescue team quickly cleared the weeds at the entrance of the well and discovered Ms. A submerged in water.

At the time of discovery, she was holding onto the gaps in the well wall while partially submerged, having created a temporary foothold by digging out stones herself. Ms. A was able to stay afloat by grabbing onto stones embedded in the wall, thanks to her ability to swim. However, due to the unique structure of the well, which was narrower at the top and wider at the bottom, she was unable to climb up the wall. After being rescued, Ms. A was immediately taken to the hospital, where it was found that she had two broken ribs and mild pneumothorax. She also sustained deep wounds on her hands from holding onto the well wall for such a long period. She is currently receiving treatment and is in stable condition.

Ms. A, who was dramatically rescued, said, "There were many moments when I was overwhelmed by despair and felt completely broken. The bottom of the well was pitch black and swarming with mosquitoes," adding, "Several water snakes were swimming nearby." She explained, "Whenever I wanted to give up, I thought of my elderly parents and my child who had just entered university, and that gave me the strength to endure." Local netizens who heard her story commented, "Her will to survive is unbelievable," "Just thinking about it makes it hard to breathe," and "It's a miracle she made it out alive."