Firefighters rescue 2-year-old from septic tank in Ningxia

A two-year-old boy was rescued from a narrow septic tank in Guyuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region on Saturday, following a tense rescue operation by emergency workers, reported Xinhua News Agency.

The incident occurred in a village when the toddler playing near an uncovered septic tank accidentally fell into it. Local emergency rescue departments responded immediately upon receiving the distress call.

Upon arrival, firefighters discovered that the opening to the septic tank had a diameter of only 30 centimeters, making it so narrow that it was nearly impossible to enter. Furthermore, the area was filled with large amounts of toxic and harmful foul-smelling gases. The soft soil surrounding the septic tank also posed a risk of collapse if handled improperly.

Fortunately, the sewage within the septic tank was only slightly over 10 centimeters deep, ensuring that the child's head remained above water. During the rescue operation, rescuers could hear him crying for help.

Given these challenging circumstances, authorities swiftly deployed excavators to widen access while firefighters pumped fresh air into the tank to stabilize oxygen levels. Another team of rescuers manually dismantled adjacent pipes in an attempt to reach and extract the boy.

After nearly 50 minutes trapped inside, the boy was successfully extricated. Following examination and treatment by on-site medical personnel, it was confirmed that he had no major injuries and was in stable condition.