Emergency crews rescued a terrified baby who fell into a narrow pipe and got stuck about 12 feet underground in his Kansas yard.
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Last Sunday, baby Bentley was playing in his family’s front yard when he accidentally stepped over a loose manhole cover and fell over five times his height at just 14 months old.
Minutes later, authorities gathered to figure out how to bring the toddler back up safely from the one-foot-in-diameter hole.
Both of Bentley’s parents, Blake and Elizabeth, tried to calm the screaming tyke. “We’re gonna get you out Bentley, it’s okay,” his father Blake promises. “Momma’s right here. We’re gonna get you out. It’s okay,” his mother, Elizabeth adds.
As the baby’s cries echoed in the background, the crew fashioned a catch pole from a smaller PVC pipe and rope, similar to those used for capturing wildlife, in their effort to secure Bentley.
The dramatic video captures a crew member skillfully maneuvering a pipe while another reaches into the narrow opening to rescue a toddler, who immediately stops sobbing upon seeing the sunlight again.
Bentley is pulled from the pipe, a bit dirty, but totally unharmed
A Uniquely Nicknamed Officer is Credited with Creating the Device That Rescued the Baby From the Pipe
Officer Ronnie Wagner of the Moundridge Police Department is credited with coming up with the contraption. It seems Wagner has something of a reputation within his department.
“We call him MacGyver,” Police Chief Jared Kaufman told ABC News. Of course, MacGyver was an 80s TV hero who fashioned ingenious contraptions out of ordinary household items.
“It was so stressful and traumatic honestly and it felt like the longest 25 minutes of my life,” Elizabeth recalled to the local outlet KAKE.
The relieved mother recounted witnessing the bizarre accident as it happened. Bentley was running across the lawn when he stepped on a loose cover. It flipped over and sent him plunging into the exposed hole beneath.
Blake was working on a car in the driveway when he was startled by the shrieks of his son and wife. Of course, this drew his attention to the unfolding chaos.
“My wife screamed that horrible scream. I was with her when she gave birth to two babies. This is the scream you never want to hear because you know something treacherous has happened,” he recalled to the outlet.
Officials believe the boy’s quick thinking may have prevented further injury. They suspect he slowed his fall by flailing his arms during the descent.
The purpose of the pipe in the family’s yard remains unclear. However, it is suspected that it was once linked to a sump pump. It was likely used to redirect excess rainwater away from the house.
Meanwhile, Bentley’s parents plan to take measures to ensure this will never happen again. Blake and Elizabeth have made arrangements to secure the cover onto the pipe, ensuring that it remains firmly in place and cannot be moved.