Man rescued after shattering back from falling down 50-foot well

By Ed Chatterton

A dad who miraculously survived falling 50ft (15m) down a well has told how he thought he was going to die after becoming trapped in the dark for two and a half hours.

Jonno Stubbs, 61, suffered a heart attack, hypothermia and multiple broken bones during the freak "one in 100 million" accident outside his home in Cheadle, Staffs.

He has also been left battling PTSD, suffering flashbacks and nightmares, and has even developed a fear of manholes following his terrifying ordeal.

The JCB forklift truck driver had been building an outdoor storeroom at his property when the paved over void gave way in his courtyard.

Jonno plunged into 5ft (1.5m) of water, shattering his back and foot before being left in the darkness alone until his brother-in-law found him.

Crews rushed to the scene and a specialist team from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service rescued him from the 18th century well.

The dad-of-two has since been left reliant on a wheelchair and crutches as he continues his road to recovery.

Jonno said: "I thought my time was up. I genuinely thought, 'This is where I die.'

"I just walked across the yard and the next thing I knew, I was dropping down this hole.

"The sandstone and flint had been covering the well for a couple of hundred years.

"When the property was built in the 1700s, it was paved over, but the sandstone had gradually eroded and eventually gave way beneath me.

"When I fell, there was a big splash. I landed in about five feet of freezing cold water and shattered my foot.

"I managed to get my phone out and call emergency services, but being 50 feet down a well, they could barely understand what I was saying.

"About 10 or 15 minutes later, my brother-in-law Danny heard my muffled shouts.

"He followed the sound, looked over the edge and realized I was down the well.

"I told him, 'ring the fire brigade, an ambulance, everyone. I've badly injured my foot and leg'."

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service originally attended the scene but didn't have the equipment needed so Jonno had to wait another 50 minutes for the neighboring service to arrive.

He added: "I was trapped down there for two-and-a-half hours.

"The local fire crews couldn't get me out because of the limited access and the specialist equipment needed.

"Later I learned I'd broken my back in four places as well as suffering serious injuries to my foot and ankle.

"The specialist rescue team from Cheshire arrived and firefighter Jack Gaskell lowered down a life jacket and a two-way radio.

"He kept talking to me throughout the ordeal.

"The first rescue plan had to be abandoned because the ground was too unstable.

"They had to rethink how they were going to get me out.

"It was February 1 and the cold was intense. After a couple of hours, I knew hypothermia was becoming a real danger.

"For the first hour or so I was fine, but then I started to worry as I could tell my body was shutting down.

"I remember telling Jack over the radio, 'I'm fading. I'm closing my eyes. You've got to get me out now.'"

"The next thing I remember is Jack beside me saying, 'Come on, we're getting you out.'

"After I was rescued and taken to hospital, my body went into shock and I suffered a heart attack.

"I spent three weeks in hospital and three months confined to bed. There was a chance I might never walk properly again.

"I shattered my heel, dislocated my ankle and broke my back in four places.

"The recovery has been long and painful, mentally and physically. I was told it was 50/50 I'd walk again.

"I still struggle with nightmares, flashbacks and PTSD. Even seeing manhole covers can trigger memories of what happened.

"I'm still on crutches, sometimes using a wheelchair, but I'm a fighter and I'm not going to let this beat me."

Jonno has now been reunited with the firefighter who rescued him back in February to say thank you for saving his life following his horror fall.

He said three things were on his mind while he was in hospital: making sure his cat was alright, whether he would be able to ride a motorbike again and meeting the firefighter who rescued him.

After spending months trying to track him down, Jonno finally met Jack on Monday (Sept. 14).

He added: "If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be sitting here today.

"He is a hero in my eyes. He risked his own life to save mine.

"One of the things that kept me going was finding Jack and thanking him properly for what he did.

"People think firefighters only put out fires or cut people from cars, but this shows they do so much more.

"It was an emotional reunion. My partner Becci has been incredible too. I couldn't have got through it without her."

Jack had been lowered into the well on a rope attached to a triangular metal frame and fitted Jonno with a harness so he could be pulled to safety.

Jack said: "In 22 years in the fire service, I've never had anyone reach out and find me after an incident.

"To have Jonno get in touch and show his appreciation really meant a lot.

"We do this job to help people. We go to an incident, do everything we can to make a difference and then move on to the next call.

"You don't often get the chance to see somebody again afterwards.

"Meeting Jonno and seeing how far he's come since the rescue was really special.

"He's got a friend for life in me."