4-Year-Old Boy Rescued After 16-Hour Ordeal in Deep Well in Northern Syria

TDT | Manama

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In a dramatic rescue operation that gripped the nation, a four-year-old boy has been saved after spending more than 16 hours trapped at the bottom of a 50-meter-deep well in northern Syria, local media reported Thursday.

The child, Ali Saleh Abdi, fell into the deep agricultural shaft in the city of Tal Abyad, near the Turkish border, while visiting family on Wednesday. The harrowing incident unfolded just days after a similar case involving another young boy in central Syria, raising urgent concerns over unsecured wells in rural areas.

Rescue teams from the local civil defence rushed to the site, deploying a camera and voice communication device into the well to monitor Ali's condition and maintain contact. Rescuers managed to speak with him throughout the ordeal and provided water and small portions of food to keep him stable. Reports indicated the child experienced breathing difficulties at times due to the depth and confined space.

An initial rescue attempt — which involved lowering another child into the well — was quickly abandoned for safety reasons. The team then executed a secondary plan: digging a parallel shaft to reach Ali horizontally. After hours of delicate excavation, they reached the boy and successfully pulled him to safety.

Ali was immediately transported to hospital for medical evaluation and treatment. His condition was reported to be stable, though he showed signs of fatigue and mild dehydration.

This marks Syria’s second child-rescue operation from a well in less than a week. Days earlier, a boy named Suleiman Al Aboud was pulled from a four-meter-deep well in the village of Al Tuwaynah, in Hama countryside.

The incidents have sparked growing concern over the widespread presence of unprotected wells in rural Syria — many of which are used for agriculture and lack proper safety measures. Civil defence teams, often working with limited resources, have been lauded for their determination and professionalism under intense pressure.

Both rescues have captured public attention and highlighted the need for urgent safety regulations and awareness campaigns to prevent future tragedies.