Cristian Marian Becheanu, a seventh-grade student from the School of Segarcea in Dolj, Romania, heroically saved three-year-old Gabriel who had fallen into a well over 15 meters deep in the Ruiu family’s courtyard around 11:30 AM. The well, with a narrow shaft of about 30 inches in diameter, posed a significant challenge for rescue operations.

Gabriel, after being rescued, was initially treated in the ICU and later moved to a ward in the neurosurgery department for monitoring due to potential cervical spine injuries from the fall. He was found in a state of shock, hypothermic, and suffering from oxygen deprivation. His head was secured with a cervical collar, and following the incident, the well was covered, with plans by the family to plant trees over it.

When the fire brigade struggled to find someone small enough to descend into the well, Cristian volunteered. Despite initial reluctance from the firefighters due to the risk of him getting stuck, they eventually agreed as they had no other viable options. Equipped with instructions, Cristian was lowered into the well using ropes, where he successfully retrieved Gabriel from the water.

This act of bravery was not Cristian’s first rescue. Previously, in 2010, he had saved three individuals trapped in a car after an accident by using a pipe to keep the door open and calling for medical help. Additionally, he assisted a classmate who needed knee surgery after a bike accident, helping him back home. Cristian aspires to become a firefighter, continuing his path of saving lives.