A teenager who sneaked into an abandoned pump house with his friends in Jersey City plunged into an abandoned well after he fell through plywood covering it, fire officials say.
Jersey City fire officials said the teen and three others were inside the pump house near an old reservoir by Summit and Jefferson avenues when he went through the rotted plywood at about 7:30 p.m.
Firefighters raced to stage a rope rescue, lowering one of their into the dark five-by-five foot opening. The teen was struggling in about 10 feet of water, according to Jersey City Fire Battalion Chief Henry DeGuilio.
"He was treading water, and he did have a small pipe to hold onto to stabilize himself," said DeGuilio.
The firefighters managed to pull the boy to safety. He was seen at the scene wrapped in a blanket, his head covered in protective gear. He gestured to his family that he was OK.
Fire officials also issued a stern warning for the other teens who frequent the abandoned building.
