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British man rescued after six days trapped in Bali well

Jacob Roberts fell down water hole and broke leg while being chased by dog

Chiara Giordano
Monday 08 June 2020 10:28 EDT
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Members of an Indonesian search and rescue team save British national Jacob Roberts after he spent six days trapped in a well
Members of an Indonesian search and rescue team save British national Jacob Roberts after he spent six days trapped in a well (Badung Police/AFP/Getty)

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A British man has been rescued after spending six days trapped down a 13ft well without food.

Jacob Roberts, 29, is believed to have broken his leg after falling into the well while being chased by a dog in the village of Pecatu.

His injury meant he was unable to climb out of the concrete structure and his cries for help went unheard for days because of its isolated location.

Mr Roberts was eventually rescued on Saturday after his calls were reportedly heard by a man on his way to feed cattle who raised the alarm with local authorities.

Images show members of local search and rescue agency Basarnas Bali wearing full personal protection equipment (PPE) as a precaution because of the coronavirus pandemic as they assess Mr Roberts at the bottom of the well.

Other photos shared on social media show Mr Roberts, dressed in just a pair of jeans and flipflops, sitting in a shallow pool of murky water at the bottom of the hole.

It is thought this water is what kept Mr Roberts alive.

Gede Darmada, head of Basarnas Bali, said a team was immediately sent to the scene – about 15 minutes away from the rescue agency’s base – after receiving a report at about 12.30pm on Saturday.

He said three men were sent down by ladder to evaluate Mr Roberts’ condition before lifting him out on a stretcher.

Jacob Roberts rescued by members of Basarnas Bali search and rescue team
Jacob Roberts rescued by members of Basarnas Bali search and rescue team (Basarnas Bali/Instagram)

Mr Roberts was taken to BIMC Nusa Dua hospital by ambulance after being “successfully evacuated in a safe condition at 1.51pm”, Basarnas Bali said in a statement.

The rescue agency said the evacuation was carried out with help from South Kuta sector police and the local community.

Yusak Agustinus Sooai, head of South Kuta police, said Mr Roberts looked “thin and injured” when he was discovered over the weekend, local media reports.

It is not clear whether the British national is a tourist visiting Bali or a resident in the area.

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