Lynchburg firefighters rescue dog after 50-foot fall into abandoned well

LYNCHBURG, Va. (WDBJ) - A Lynchburg family is counting its blessings after their two-year-old dog survived a 50-foot fall into an abandoned well, prompting a complex overnight rescue by the Lynchburg Fire Department’s technical rescue team.

Fire officials say crews received the call around 9 p.m. Wednesday, reporting that a dog had fallen into what appeared to be a sinkhole. Responders later determined the opening was an old bored well that had been covered by a concrete slab. The surrounding ground was unstable, creating additional hazards for rescuers.

Using a rangefinder, firefighters located the dog, Winnie, roughly 50 to 55 feet below ground. Since the concrete and soil around the opening were at risk of shifting, crews prioritized stabilizing the area before attempting a rescue.

The fire department called in Bee Line Transport to assist with heavy equipment. A rotator truck was used to help secure the slab and create a high anchor point. Firefighters then rigged a pulley system, allowing a rescuer in a harness to be lowered safely into the well after an initial attempt to retrieve the dog using a crate was unsuccessful.

Once secured, Winnie and the rescuer were lifted back to the surface. The entire operation took about three hours, with the dog reaching the surface around 12:30 a.m.

Fire officials noted the rescue team had just cleared a separate structure fire before transitioning to the technical rescue.

Winnie escaped the fall with only minor scratches and a small skull fracture. Her family says they believed the well had long been filled in and were unaware it had reopened. They say they are grateful the dog is recovering and that no one else was injured.

The Lynchburg Fire Department says its technical rescue team regularly trains for high-risk scenarios, including animal rescues, and credited coordination and safety measures for the successful outcome.