An 11-Year-Old Went Down a 230-Foot Well to Save a Five-Year-Old Boy

In a village in southern Afghanistan, a group of men crowded around a computer screen, watching a little boy trapped deep underground. Five-year-old Zainullah was sitting in a dark, damp space at the bottom of an abandoned well. Water had collected around his feet, and he had been down there for two days.

The opening above him was only about twelve inches wide. No adult could squeeze through it, and the rescuers had already tried several ways to bring him up. They could lower a rope, but Zainullah was too young and frightened to secure himself to it.

The rescuers needed someone small enough to fit through the opening who could also manage the dangerous journey down. Three children had already tried and been brought back up when the conditions became too difficult. Eventually, the team turned to an eleven-year-old boy named Hazrat Omar.

A Hole Hidden in the Ground

Zainullah had been playing with friends in the Maiwand district of Kandahar province when he fell into the well. It had once been used to reach groundwater, but it had dried up years earlier. The farmers who dug it had covered the opening with wood and soil, which had gradually weakened.

The shaft dropped approximately 70 metres, or 230 feet. Somehow, Zainullah survived the fall and ended up in a cavity much wider than the narrow opening above. He was alive, but getting him out was proving incredibly difficult.

Local villagers gathered to help, and an experienced volunteer rescuer named Mirajan Abdullah was called to the scene. Mirajan had developed his own rescue equipment using a camera connected to a computer, allowing people above ground to see children trapped in deep wells.

His system had already helped save lives. By the time the BBC documented his work in 2026, Mirajan had been involved in 113 rescue operations over four years, with nearly 70 people brought out alive.

The Boy Who Volunteered

Hazrat Omar was only eleven, but he had already helped with another successful rescue. The adults knew he was small enough to fit into the opening, although sending him so far underground was a frightening prospect.

His uncle, Azizullah, was worried about what might happen. He understood the risks, but Hazrat wanted to help the trapped boy. With his uncle’s permission, he agreed to make the descent.

The first attempt went badly. Hazrat was lowered with a rope secured around his hands, but his shoulder and thigh became wedged against the narrow walls. He called out that he was hurting, and the rescuers immediately pulled him back to the surface.

Despite that experience, Hazrat agreed to try again. This time, he managed to reach the bottom, where he found Zainullah waiting in the underground chamber. The younger boy was exhausted, but he was finally within reach of someone who could help him.

Hazrat secured Zainullah’s hands to a second rope so they could pull him to safety. The rescuers checked that both boys were ready and began the slow process of bringing them back through the shaft.

Hundreds of People Waited Above

By then, hundreds of people had gathered around the well. Some watched the rescue equipment while others stood nearby, waiting for news. Two ambulances were ready in case either boy needed urgent medical care.

A loudspeaker was used to ask the crowd to stay quiet. The men handling the ropes needed to concentrate, and every movement had to be controlled as the boys travelled upward.

Mirajan called down to guide Hazrat, encouraging him as he got closer to the opening. Other men reminded the rope handlers to move slowly until someone finally spotted the eleven-year-old approaching the surface.

The crowd erupted as Hazrat appeared, covered in mud and hanging from the rope. They lifted him clear while the team continued bringing up Zainullah. A few minutes later, the five-year-old emerged from the well too.

After two days underground, Zainullah was finally back with his family. Rescuers carried him away for medical attention, and he was discharged from hospital the following day.

His father had spent two days wondering whether he would ever see his son alive again. Now the little boy was coming home, thanks to the rescuers who had worked around the clock and an eleven-year-old who had been willing to help.

A Rescue Nobody Forgot

Hazrat’s bravery quickly became known around the village. His uncle was relieved too. Azizullah later recalled how scared he had been about allowing Hazrat to take part, knowing that the rescue could have gone bad.

The incident also drew attention to a widespread danger in Afghanistan. Farmers often drill deep wells to reach groundwater, especially in areas affected by drought. When those wells dry up, some are abandoned without secure covers, leaving narrow openings that can be hard to see.

According to a BBC investigation published in October 2026, more than 100 incidents involving people falling into wells had been confirmed across Afghanistan since 2021. Mirajan wants more people trained in safe rescue methods so help can reach trapped children sooner.

The villagers made sure Zainullah’s well couldn’t cause another accident, placing a large rock over the opening. For his family, the experience was finally over, although they would never forget the people who had helped bring him home.

Eight months after the rescue, on February 2, 2026, the two boys met again near Zainullah’s home. It was the first opportunity his parents had to thank Hazrat in person, and they brought gifts to show their appreciation.