A man who plummeted 30 feet into a well in a North Staffordshire market town was pulled to safety this morning after a two-hour rescue operation.
Emergency crews rushed to High Street in Cheadle shortly before 9am following reports that the individual had fallen down the shaft.
The man, who dropped approximately nine metres, was brought back to the surface at around 10:35am.
Despite the significant fall, the man escaped with only minor injuries, according to West Midlands Ambulance Service.
Multiple agencies coordinated their efforts during the incident, with Staffordshire Police closing the road to allow rescue teams to work safely.
The fire service had earlier urged members of the public to stay away from the area whilst the operation was underway.
West Midlands Ambulance Service initially contacted the fire brigade at 8.40am on Sunday morning, alerting them to the situation on Cheadle’s main thoroughfare.
Staffordshire Police confirmed their officers arrived at the scene at 8.37am alongside fellow emergency responders.
The fire service had earlier urged members of the public to stay away from the area whilst the operation was underway
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STAFFORDSHIRE FIRE & RESCUE
The rescue effort required substantial resources, with three fire crews dispatched to tackle the challenging extraction.
Specialist assistance was also summoned from neighbouring Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service, who sent their technical rescue unit to support the operation.
The complexity of retrieving someone from such a depth necessitated this multi-agency approach, bringing together firefighters, police officers and paramedics.
Authorities worked together throughout the morning to ensure the trapped man could be reached and brought back to ground level safely.
Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service issued a statement outlining their involvement in the incident.
“We’re at the scene of an incident on the Cheadle High Street after a man fell down a well,” the service said. “At 8.40am today, we were called by colleagues at West Midlands Ambulance Service to the scene.”
The statement continued: “Three crews are currently at the scene, as well as a technical rescue unit from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.
“Our colleagues from Staffordshire Police have also closed the road while we work to resolve the incident.”
Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service issued a statement outlining their involvement in the incident
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STAFFORDSHIRE FIRE & RESCUE
Officers maintained the road closure throughout the morning operation.
However, emergency vehicles had clear access, while pedestrians were kept at a safe distance from the rescue site.
The fire service confirmed the successful conclusion of the rescue operation in their statement.
They said: “At about 10.35am, the man was rescued from the well and is being assessed by ambulance crews at the scene.”
Paramedics from West Midlands Ambulance Service examined the casualty following his extraction from the shaft.
Remarkably, given the considerable distance he had fallen, medical staff determined that the man had sustained only minor injuries during his ordeal.
The swift response from multiple emergency services, combined with the specialist equipment brought in from Cheshire, proved crucial in achieving a positive outcome.
Residents had been advised to avoid the High Street area during the rescue, with normal access expected to resume once emergency crews cleared the scene.