MOUNDRIDGE, Kan. (KSNW) -- A 14-month-old boy fell into a PVC pipe and became trapped underground in Moundridge on Sunday.
The family says the child was playing at home and stepped on top of a hole, falling into it. The parents called 911 just before 2 p.m.
The Moundridge Police Department, Fire Department and EMS responded. They found a pipe approximately 12 inches in diameter and 10 to 12 feet deep. The toddler was upright in the bottom of the pipe.
The rescuers quickly began working to free the child.
The police department said it wants to especially highlight Officer Ronnie Wagner for creating a catch pole out of a thinner PVC pipe and rope. Wagner, a veteran, has only been with the department for a month.
He called Jeremy Samland with EMS. Samland lives nearby and had a narrow PVC pipe in his garage.
The two crafted a 16-foot PVC rod and then funneled fire department rope through it. Wagner tied a circle lasso at the end of it. Rescuers lowered the rod and rope over the boy and lifted him to safety.
"If none of our efforts worked at that time, we would've had to start digging, bring in some equipment and start digging a really big hole in the front yard and dig him out, which would've been time-consuming," Wagner said.
Police say Wagner's creative solution was instrumental in lifting the child safely from the pipe.
They got the child out in approximately 20 minutes.
The child was unharmed. His parents are elated that he is OK.
Tune into KSN News at 6 for continuing coverage with Derek Lytle.
