Boulder firefighters rescued a 5-year-old boy who became trapped in a hole while playing in a Boulder park today.
Kim Kobel, Boulder Fire Department spokesman, said the boy was playing several older boys in Red Oak Park near 26th and Valmont.
The child’s mother told authorities, several boys were jumping in and out of the hole when her son tried jumping and became trapped. The hole is about 3 ½ feet deep and 8-to-12 inches wide.
The boy was stuck with his ankles crossed below and behind him. His knees were buckled under him and firefighters could not pull him directly out.
Boulder firefighters used hand shovels to dig down one side of the little boy, and then dig across to him when they got closer to his feet.
Firefighters cut the bottom out of a 5-gallon bucket and placed it around the boy’s head to keep the dirt away from him while they were digging, Kobel said in a news release.
Rescuers gave the child oxygen while they dug him free, and a police victim’s advocate spoke to him while the firefighters worked. Also, a lieutenant with the Boulder Fire Department held the child’s hand during the rescue.
The child was cold and scared, but did not appear to be hurt. His mother was present during the rescue.
The boy has been taken to the hospital to be checked outs.
At this point, Boulder Fire Department investigators do not know the purpose of the holes or who dug them. Firefighters filled them with dirt so that the holes would not be a safety hazard.
