A 14-month-old boy fell into a PVC pipe and became trapped underground in Moundridge on Sunday afternoon.
The entire family was outside. The child’s father was working on his car while his wife was walking around the yard with their 14-month-old son, Bentley. That’s when she saw him fall into a PVC pipe more than 10 feet into the ground.
Rescuers saved a child who fell into a pipe in Moundridge on July 28, 2024. (Courtesy: Family)
The parents called 911 just before 2 p.m.
“It’s horrifying. It’s haunting to feel so helpless knowing that your child is in serious need of help,” said the boy’s father, Blake.
The Moundridge Police Department, Fire Department and EMS responded. They found a pipe approximately 12 inches in diameter and 10 to 12 feet deep. The toddler was upright in the bottom of the pipe.
“Looking down at him as he was screaming, he wanted out of there, he wanted help, and you can’t do anything. It’s just completely helplessness,” said Blake.
The police department said it wants to especially highlight Officer Ronnie Wagner for creating a catch pole out of a thinner PVC pipe and rope. Wagner, a veteran, has only been with the department for a month.
They made a 16-foot PVC rod and then funneled fire department rope through it. Wagner tied a circle lasso at the end of it.
“Basically, I threaded some rope through some PVC pipe, tied a knot at the end of it so that it would slip,” said Wagner.
Rescuers lowered the rod and rope over the boy and lifted him to safety.
“We used it to wrap around the child, basically right under his shoulders and lift him out of the hole,” said Wagner.
Here is the complete bodycam video if you'd like to see the rescue