Narrow escape

Jacquan Wharton is counting his lucky stars after falling into a 42-foot well on Wednesday.

Wharton, who was working on a house with his father in Clarke’s Road, Hothersal Turning, St Michael, was at lunch and heading to a canteen. While walking through a track near the work site, he fell into the well.

Thankfully, he only sustained minor injuries and was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in an ambulance.

Acting station officer Marlon Small said the Barbados Fire Service received an emergency call around 12:44 p.m. and 13 officers responded to the incident, adding that an Arizona Vortex (a high directional system that allows users to manipulate elevated rope lines above confined spaces) was used to rescue Wharton.

Wendell Harris

The 20-year-old’s father Wendell Harris said he was relieved when he found out that his son only suffered minor bruises.

“One of the guys who worked with me shouted me and said what happened. He (Wharton) left to go and get something to eat and come back. They normally walk this same track and go and get something to eat. They were not aware a well was there. So when they were passing coming back from buying something to eat is when he fell. This was the second time they passed here for the week.”

Harris said that he was grateful his son was alive and did not have any broken limbs.

After the fire officers completed their duties, workers from the Drainage Division visited the area and secured the well, which was covered with a badly deteriorated piece of wood.

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb