A heart-stopping video captured the dramatic moment a rescue crew saved a toddler named Bentley who had fallen down a deep narrow PVC pipe in his family’s yard in Kansas. Bentley had been playing in the front yard when he stepped over a loose manhole cover and plummeted nine feet down the hole, which was about five times his height. The boy’s father, Blake, reassured Bentley as the emergency crew worked on a plan to bring him back above ground, while his mother, Elizabeth, tearfully comforted him from above.
In the intense video, the crew can be seen crafting a smaller PVC pipe and rope into a makeshift catch pole in order to grab hold of Bentley and pull him to safety. Despite the chaotic situation, Bentley was miraculously not injured during the ordeal. Elizabeth described the 25 minutes it took to rescue Bentley as extremely stressful and traumatic, as she witnessed the accident happen before her eyes. Blake also recounted hearing his wife’s scream, describing it as the worst sound he had ever heard.
As the first responders attempted various methods to reach Bentley, the young boy’s constant cries provided encouragement that he was conscious. In his panic, Bentley thwarted several of their attempts, including throwing off a rope that was looped around him. After failed attempts with a PVC pipe with an L-shaped bend, the crew finally managed to create a catch pole that successfully brought the toddler back above ground, calming him down instantly.
Despite being muddied and shocked, Bentley did not sustain any injuries that required a trip to the hospital. Officials praised the quick thinking of the boy, suggesting that he may have slowed his descent by flailing his arms as he fell. The purpose of the pipe in the yard was not clear, but it was suspected to have been connected to a sump pump at some point. Bentley’s parents have already made plans to secure the cover to prevent any similar accidents from occurring in the future.
The incident took place in Moundridge, a small town of about 2,000 residents located approximately 40 miles north of Wichita. The community came together in support of Bentley and his family, relieved that the toddler was rescued safely. The video of the rescue quickly garnered attention and praise for the quick thinking and actions of the rescue crew who managed to bring Bentley back above ground without any injuries.
