Dramatic Rescue of Gunungkidul Boy Who Fell into Well

The rapid reaction team (TRC) of the Gunungkidul Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) evacuated a 10-year-old boy, identified as Y, who had fallen into a well. The victim managed to survive until he was eventually rescued.

The incident occurred on Sunday morning (16/8) in a well approximately 20 metres deep in Gadungsari, Wonosari, Gunungkidul. The boy’s presence was discovered by a neighbour who heard cries for help.

‘His neighbour heard someone calling for help, wondered 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 reported the incident to the local village authorities. Rescue teams from the Gunungkidul BPBD, fire brigade officers, and the Gunungkidul Emergency Service immediately arrived at the location.

The well was relatively narrow and its walls were slippery. Before carrying out the evacuation, the team conducted an assessment and prepared adequate equipment.

TRC BPBD Gunungkidul officer Tugiyo explained that the victim had attempted to climb out but then fell back because of the slippery walls. Nevertheless, the victim remained conscious and tried again.

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

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.

‘Then his hands could not hold on, he went down again, and tried to climb up again, holding 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 reaching the boy, officers fitted a safety harness onto 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.