Jonno Stubbs, 61, has been reunited with the firefighter who saved his life after he survived a 50ft (15m) fall into an 18th century well. He spent two-and-a-half hours trapped in freezing water, convinced he was going to die.
Stubbs was working on an outdoor store room at his home in Cheadle, Staffordshire, when the paved ground beneath him collapsed. He plunged into around 5ft (1.5m) of water, suffering multiple serious injuries, including a shattered foot and a broken back. He later suffered a heart attack and hypothermia, and the ordeal has left him dealing with PTSD, nightmares and flashbacks.
Trapped in the well
Stubbs said: "I thought my time was up. I genuinely thought, 'This is where I die'. I just walked across the yard and the next thing I knew, I was dropping down this hole."
He added: "The sandstone and flint had been covering the well for a couple of hundred years. When the property was built in the 1700s, it was paved over, but the sandstone had gradually eroded and eventually gave way beneath me."
After falling, Stubbs managed to call emergency services, but his voice was barely audible from 50 feet down. About 10 or 15 minutes later, his brother-in-law Danny heard his muffled shouts and alerted the fire brigade and an ambulance.
Specialist rescue
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service initially arrived but could not reach Stubbs due to difficult access and lack of specialist equipment. He waited another 50 minutes before a specialist team from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service arrived.
Stubbs said: "The specialist rescue team from Cheshire arrived and firefighter Jack Gaskell lowered down a life jacket and a two-way radio. He kept talking to me throughout the ordeal. The first rescue plan had to be abandoned because the ground was too unstable."
He recalled: "I remember telling Jack over the radio, 'I'm fading. I'm closing my eyes. You've got to get me out now.' The next thing I remember is Jack beside me saying, 'Come on, we're getting you out.'"
Recovery and reunion
After being rescued and taken to hospital, Stubbs suffered a heart attack. He spent three weeks in hospital and three months confined to bed, and was told there was a chance he might never walk properly again. He said: "I was told it was 50/50 I'd walk again. I still struggle with nightmares, flashbacks and PTSD. Even seeing manhole covers can trigger memories of what happened."
Since the accident, Stubbs was determined to find Jack and thank him personally. After months of trying, the pair were reunited on Monday (September 14). Stubbs said: "If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be sitting here today. He is a hero in my eyes. He risked his own life to save mine."
During the rescue, Jack was lowered into the well using a rope attached to a triangular metal frame before securing Stubbs in a harness and helping bring him back to the surface. Jack said: "In 22 years in the fire service, I've never had anyone reach out and find me after an incident. To have Jonno get in touch and show his appreciation really meant a lot."
He added: "Meeting Jonno and seeing how far he's come since the rescue was really special. He's got a friend for life in me."
