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Woman falls into 40ft deep well Woman falls into 40ft deep well
(10 minutes later)
A pensioner thanks her rescuers after being submerged in freezing water when she fell into a 40ft (12m) well.A pensioner thanks her rescuers after being submerged in freezing water when she fell into a 40ft (12m) well.
Anne Towl was crossing a field in Marshfield, Newport, to feed her horse when she fell into the disused well.Anne Towl was crossing a field in Marshfield, Newport, to feed her horse when she fell into the disused well.
She managed to swim to the top of the water and a passer-by heard her shouts and rang for help.She managed to swim to the top of the water and a passer-by heard her shouts and rang for help.
Paramedic Richard Harris arrived and gave Mrs Towl his leg to hang on to. She said his encouragement helped her keep going until firefighters arrived.Paramedic Richard Harris arrived and gave Mrs Towl his leg to hang on to. She said his encouragement helped her keep going until firefighters arrived.
Mrs Towl's ordeal began as she went to the field near her home in St Mellon's Road, Marshfield, to feed her horse as she does three times daily.Mrs Towl's ordeal began as she went to the field near her home in St Mellon's Road, Marshfield, to feed her horse as she does three times daily.
She was distracted by a cat as walked across the grass, and felt herself falling. She was distracted by a cat weaving around her ankles, and the next thing she knew she was falling downwards.
"I knew there was an old well there which had been covered by a paving slab, but it must have given way," said Mrs Towl, who is in her 70s and a grandmother."I knew there was an old well there which had been covered by a paving slab, but it must have given way," said Mrs Towl, who is in her 70s and a grandmother.
"All of a sudden I was plunging through water and debris was coming down on top of me," she said."All of a sudden I was plunging through water and debris was coming down on top of me," she said.
"I remember thinking 'You're not going to get out of this' - I didn't realise how deep it was.""I remember thinking 'You're not going to get out of this' - I didn't realise how deep it was."
She was able to swim back to the top of the well and could reach the top with her fingertips, but could not get out. She wedged her back against the wall and shouted for help, hoping to attract anybody using a nearby footpath.She was able to swim back to the top of the well and could reach the top with her fingertips, but could not get out. She wedged her back against the wall and shouted for help, hoping to attract anybody using a nearby footpath.
When I was told someone had fallen down a well I thought it was a joke at first Richard Harris, paramedicWhen I was told someone had fallen down a well I thought it was a joke at first Richard Harris, paramedic
A woman and her son heard her cries and called the emergency services. She also lowered a hosepipe to Mrs Towl which she wrapped around her body.A woman and her son heard her cries and called the emergency services. She also lowered a hosepipe to Mrs Towl which she wrapped around her body.
When paramedic Richard Harris arrived, he knew he could not get Mrs Towl out alone so rang for back-up, but according to Mrs Towl his presence helped her hang on long enough.When paramedic Richard Harris arrived, he knew he could not get Mrs Towl out alone so rang for back-up, but according to Mrs Towl his presence helped her hang on long enough.
"He could see my grip was failing and I was trembling so much. He told me to hang on to his leg when my strength was failing fast and it was his encouragement that kept me going," she said."He could see my grip was failing and I was trembling so much. He told me to hang on to his leg when my strength was failing fast and it was his encouragement that kept me going," she said.
Firefighters arrived shortly afterwards and lowered a sling to Mrs Towl and hoisted her out.Firefighters arrived shortly afterwards and lowered a sling to Mrs Towl and hoisted her out.
"The banter between the paramedic and the fire crews was itself reassuring and I am so grateful to them all for saving my life," she said."The banter between the paramedic and the fire crews was itself reassuring and I am so grateful to them all for saving my life," she said.
Mrs Towl needed treatment for hypothermia at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, but was otherwise uninjured. Mrs Towl needed treatment for hypothermia at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, but was otherwise uninjured. However she is still suffering flashbacks to the incident.
She wrote to the Welsh Ambulance Services and the fire service to thank both crews for saving her.She wrote to the Welsh Ambulance Services and the fire service to thank both crews for saving her.
Mr Harris, who has been in the ambulance service for 23 years, said: "I've attended all kinds of incidents over the years but nothing quite like that.Mr Harris, who has been in the ambulance service for 23 years, said: "I've attended all kinds of incidents over the years but nothing quite like that.
"When I was told someone had fallen down a well I thought it was a joke at first," he said."When I was told someone had fallen down a well I thought it was a joke at first," he said.
"I could soon see it was a very serious situation and all I could do was keep talking to her and tell her that the fire service was on its way," he said."I could soon see it was a very serious situation and all I could do was keep talking to her and tell her that the fire service was on its way," he said.
"She was soaking wet and freezing cold, and I don't know how much longer she could have held on.""She was soaking wet and freezing cold, and I don't know how much longer she could have held on."