A soldier rescued a man from a well on Sunday, narrowly saving his life in the municipality of Mantua in Pinar del Río. The incident took place in the coastal community of Arroyos de Mantua, where a local resident decided to descend into a 25-meter well to clean it. Once at the bottom, a lack of oxygen caused him to become disoriented and lose consciousness.
The man, named Lázaro Iglesias Valdés, is alive today thanks to the swift actions of young soldier Abel Martínez Fiallo from the Border Guard Troops of the Ministry of the Interior. According to official journalist Lázaro Boza, who shared the story on Facebook, Lázaro’s companions at the well's opening realized what was happening and alerted the authorities.
"Without proper equipment or training to rescue Lázaro, who was suffering from a lack of oxygen and hypothermia, they turned to the Border Guard Troops of the MININT," Boza reported.
Among the responders was Martínez Fiallo from the Special Destination Group, who decided to descend and save the man, understanding that he would not survive another five minutes at the bottom of the well. "Tied to a rope, the soldier reached the bottom of the narrow cavity. 'I've come to save you,' he said, and fighting against the lack of oxygen, he tied Lázaro and signaled for extraction," the reporter detailed.
The rescued man received immediate medical attention at the local medical post, where his vital signs were stabilized before being transferred to the main clinic in Mantua. The soldier also underwent routine medical examinations. He insists he does not see himself as a hero.
"I did what had to be done in those circumstances; otherwise, a man, a father, would have died," he stated.
Critical Rescue Operation in Pinar del Río
Below are some frequently asked questions and their answers regarding the rescue operation that took place in Pinar del Río, saving Lázaro Iglesias Valdés from a well.
Who was the man rescued from the well?
The man rescued was Lázaro Iglesias Valdés.
Who performed the rescue operation?
The rescue was performed by Abel Martínez Fiallo, a soldier from the Border Guard Troops of the Ministry of the Interior.
What caused the man to become trapped in the well?
Lázaro Iglesias Valdés became trapped due to a lack of oxygen, which caused him to become disoriented and lose consciousness.
How did the soldier manage to rescue the man?
The soldier, tied to a rope, descended into the well, tied Lázaro, and signaled for extraction, fighting against the lack of oxygen.