A tragic incident occurred in Offa local government area, Kwara State on Thursday as 49-year-old Fasasi Azeez lost his life in a heroic attempt to rescue his son, Kaleed, from a deep domestic well.
The heartbreaking event happened at around 04:11 pm, when Kaleed slipped and fell into the well while fetching water.
Hassan Adekunle, the spokesperson for the Kwara State Fire Service, confirmed the incident on Friday, revealing that Mr Azeez dived into the deep well upon witnessing his son’s fall.
Adekunle said the brigade received a distress call from Alhaji Taiye Gbadamosi in the neighborhood, but despite the prompt response, Azeez tragically lost his life, while his son was successfully rescued alive.
The statement reads:
“Kwara State Fire Service recovered the body of a 49-year-old man and also rescued a boy of about 12 years old from a domestic well.
“Today, February 22, 2024, a man of about 49-year-old, called Mr Fasasi Afeez, and his son Kaleed Afeez of Gaa Jangbo, Igbonna Road, Offa, Offa local government area, Kwara state, fell into a domestic well, and we recovered the father dead while we were able to rescue the son alive at New Maselu Village, Offa.
“The terrible incident occurred this evening at about 04:11 PM (16:11 hrs), and the Brigade was summoned through an exchange telephone call by one Alhaji Taiye Gbadamosi living in that neighbourhood.
“However, firemen were able to recover the man dead from the well and later handed it over to one of the family members of the deceased.
“According to the report, the victim (a boy) went to fetch water from a domestic well, and during the process of fetching water, one of his legs suddenly slipped off the ground and eventually tumbled down into the well. Before the arrival of the fire service, his father, who was trying to rescue the victim, had his legs suddenly slip off the ground in the process and eventually tumble down into the well too.
“The Director, Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John Olumuyiwa, expressed his sadness over the incident and urged the general public to be more careful in their day-to-day activities. They should desist from sending underage children to fetch water in domestic wells.”