10-Year-Old Boy Survives After Falling into Well in Wonosari, Gunungkidul

A 10-year-old boy, identified by the initial Y, fell into a well approximately 20 metres deep in Gadungsari, Wonosari, Gunungkidul. Fortunately, his life was saved after the rapid reaction team (TRC) of the Gunungkidul Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) carried out a rescue operation.

The incident occurred on the morning of 16 August. The boy’s presence inside the well was first noticed by residents living near the well.

‘His neighbour heard someone calling for help, wondering who it was, and then realised there was a child in the well. Then his friend reported it to the boy’s house,’ explained local resident Samsuharjo when met by journalists at the scene on Sunday (16/8/2026).

Residents then relayed the report to the Wonosari Village task force, the babinsa (village military non-commissioned officer), and the bhabinkamtibmas (community police officer). Rescue teams from the Gunungkidul BPBD, fire service personnel, and the Gunungkidul Emergency Service immediately went to the location.

Upon arrival, officers conducted an assessment and prepared equipment for the evacuation and rescue. The well shaft was considered narrow and had slippery walls.

Gunungkidul BPBD TRC officer Tugiyo said the rescue effort involved officers descending directly to the bottom of the well. The evacuation was carried out using ropes and a number of safety devices.

Tugiyo explained that before officers arrived, the boy had twice attempted to climb out of the well. However, his efforts were in vain because the well walls were slippery, causing him to fall back down.

‘He went down twice. The first time he plunged and sank to the bottom, then crawled back up because he was conscious, then waited for quite a long time, more than 30 minutes,’ he explained.

‘Then his hands could not hold on, so he went down again, and tried to climb up again, and held on until we arrived, and then we helped him,’ Tugiyo continued.

Tugiyo said the evacuation process went relatively smoothly because the boy was still conscious and able to communicate. After successfully reaching the boy, officers fitted a safety device to his body. The boy was then pulled up slowly using a rope system.

The boy was eventually brought out of the well in a safe condition. He was immediately rushed to the nearest health facility. However, Tugiyo did not detail the injuries suffered by the boy.

‘Thank God the process went quite smoothly, and thank God the child was conscious and we could communicate with him down below, and even before we went down he could still be directed,’ he concluded.