A dramatic rescue unfolded in Taylorville Saturday afternoon when two children, a teenager and a toddler, were saved after becoming trapped in a well approximately 15 feet underground.

The Taylorville Fire Department (TFD) responded to the scene after receiving a call at 1:21 p.m. Upon arrival, first responders found the children trapped in a narrow well, 16-18 inches in diameter, partially submerged in water. The well, approximately 30 feet deep, left both children unable to reach the surface or the bottom.

Firefighters, led by Assistant Fire Chief Cody Rogers and Shift 1 personnel, immediately deployed a pre-made rigging system to safely extract the children. Both were carefully removed from the well and transferred to Taylorville Memorial Hospital for evaluation. Emergency medical services were present to provide on-site care before transport.

The rescue operation was successful, with all responders demonstrating professionalism and readiness. One TFD member sustained minor injuries during the rescue.

TFD Chief Matthew Adermann and Mayor Bruce Barry commended the swift actions of the responding units, which included the Taylorville Fire Department's Shift 1, Assistant Chief Rogers, E-3 with two volunteer members, and EMS teams.

Chief Adermann says that he is extremely proud of the quick response of their crew that put  their lives in harm's way and were able to make this a positive outcome. The hard work and training the members of the Taylorville Fire Department have paid off greatly.

The Taylorville Fire Department’s mission emphasizes life safety, incident stabilization, and environmental preservation, and their efforts on Saturday exemplified these goals.

Both children are currently under medical evaluation, and no severe injuries have been reported. More information on the incident is expected to be released on Monday.