Boy Falls Into Hole, Rescued By Newton Firefighters

NEWTON, MA — A boy is recovering after falling about 10-feet into a dirt hole and breaking his collarbone in Newton Sunday evening, according to Newton Fire Department officials and witnesses.

A 12-year-old fell into a 20-foot-by-20 foot hole on Lake Avenue around 7 p.m., Lt. Michael Bianchi told Patch.

Witnesses said the boy was set to attend his friend's birthday party and playing in the yard when he fell into a hole on the neighbors property.

"We had no idea there was a hole there," one witness told Patch.

A man at the party jumped down into the hole after the boy and a nurse who was nearby determined they shouldn't attempt to move him themselves, the witness said.

Firefighters used a ladder to climb about 10-feet down into the hole and then used ropes and a rescue basket and backboard to get the boy out of the hole.

"It seemed that [the rescue] went smoothly," Bianchi said.

The child was taken to Boston Children’s Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, he said.

Witnesses said the hole had been there, unmarked, for weeks as part of construction. Signs, caution tape and barriers were added the day after the incident.

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).