This archive report was first published on 29 October 2019.
On October 29, 2019, a dramatic rescue effort came to a tragic end in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India, where the body of two-year-old Sujith Wilson was recovered after being trapped 26 meters (85 feet) down a well for over three days.
Sujith's ordeal began on Friday when he fell into the 30-centimeter (one-foot) diameter pipe while playing near his home in the Tiruchirappalli district. The incident drew nationwide attention, with politicians and the public rallying around the family.
Rescuers used special equipment to retrieve Sujith's body, which was found in a decomposed state. A post-mortem examination was conducted to determine the cause of death.
During the rescue effort, a thermal camera was used to monitor Sujith's temperature, and oxygen was supplied through a pipe. However, attempts to use robotic devices to lower ropes to latch onto Sujith's wrist failed on Saturday.
Workers also used an oil drill to dig a hole parallel to the well, but the rig broke down around 10 meters (33 feet) from the boy due to the rocky ground.
The incident is the latest in a series of tragic events involving children falling into disused wells in rural India. In June, a two-year-old boy died after spending four days trapped inside a well in Punjab state. In 2006, a six-year-old boy was rescued safely in Haryana state after being stuck in an 18-meter (60-foot) well for 48 hours.
