1-year-old Rescued from Underground Pipe in Kansas; Family Elated and Relieved as Toddler is Safe and Sound after Rescue

Moundridge, KANSAS-
A 14-month-old boy accidentally fell into a PVC pipe and became trapped underground in Moundridge on Sunday afternoon.
The whole family was outdoors. The father was busy fixing his car while the mother was strolling around the yard with their 14-month-old son, Bentley. She witnessed him tumbling into a PVC pipe that extended over 10 feet beneath the surface.
The parents dialed 911 shortly before 2 p.m.
“It’s horrifying. It’s haunting to feel so helpless knowing that your child is in serious need of help,” said the boy’s father, Blake.
The Moundridge Police Department, Fire Department, and EMS were called to the scene. A pipe of about 12 inches in diameter and 10 to 12 feet deep was discovered. The young child was standing inside the pipe.
“Looking down at him as he was screaming, he wanted out of there, he wanted help, and you can’t do anything. It’s just completely helplessness,” said Blake.
The rescuers swiftly started efforts to liberate the child.
The police department would like to give special recognition to Officer Ronnie Wagner for his ingenuity in crafting a catch pole using a thinner PVC pipe and rope. Wagner, a seasoned professional, has recently joined the department.
He contacted Jeremy Samland from EMS. Samland, who resides in the vicinity, had a slender PVC pipe stored in his garage.
“This isn’t a normal situation to respond to; now we’re trying to adapt on the fly, and the resources and the ability to do that is very impressive to have,” Samland said.
They created a 16-foot PVC rod and threaded fire department rope through it. Wagner skillfully attached a looped lasso to the end.
“Basically, I threaded some rope through some PVC pipe, tied a knot at the end of it so that it would slip,” said Wagner.
Rescuers successfully deployed a rod and rope to safely lift the boy to higher ground.
“We used it to wrap around the child, basically right under his shoulders and lift him out of the hole,” said Wagner.
“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.
According to the police, Wagner’s innovative approach played a crucial role in safely rescuing the child from the pipe.
The child was successfully rescued in about 20 minutes. The child emerged from the incident unscathed. His parents are overjoyed that he is safe.
The family is uncertain about the purpose of the pipe. The family expresses gratitude for the swift actions of the first responders who saved their son.
“It’s a blessing and a miracle to have a first responder that lives right behind us. There aren’t words to express our gratitude toward the city,” said Blake.
The father of the boy expressed gratitude towards the local first responders for their rescue efforts, as his son was understandably frightened during the incident.
Read More: 11-Hour Long Police Operation Nets 37 Arrests in Arkansas; Firearms; Narcotics Confiscated