The story has been told of a little boy in Imo state who cheated death after spending as many as 23 hours inside the borehole. Tuesday, October 16, 2018, will remain evergreen in the history of Nsu Clan in Ehime Mbano local council area of Imo State and the Anglican Diocese of Okigwe South. It was the day the three-year-old Frank Iwuchukwu, was saved from an abandoned 100 feet borehole, close to the chancery of St. Paul’s Cathedral, Ezeoke Nsu.
Preaching the homily during a thanksgiving service, arranged by the Diocese, in honour of the boy, Bishop David O. C. Onuoha, said it was a harrowing experience that lasted for about 23 hours.
The rest of the story is better told by the Bishop:
“Frank and his fellow children, were making their way to the Cathedral Hall, oblivious that danger was lurking on their way. Weeds had covered the barren borehole, drilled about two years ago, in search of water.
“Frank unknowingly stepped on the yawning hole and his six-year-old elder sister, Agape Iwuchukwu, made frantic efforts to prevent him from falling in. She had to let go and started looking for people to assist her to prevent the brother from going down. By the time people arrived the scene, the little boy was already 100 feet below the earth.
HOW THE BISHOP ARRIVED THE SCENE
“Inside the church, women were seen rolling on the floor, weeping and praying for divine intervention. Outside, young men were very busy, trying one technique or the other. Others stood by, offering one idea or the other. Children were all over the place, weeping uncontrollably. People forgot food, sleep and rest. They were all united in the effort to bring out Frank.
ARRIVAL OF FIRE SERVICE PERSONNEL
“By 1.30am, an idea was proffered that a parallel rescue well should be dug very near to the one holding the boy. The idea was to connect the two, on reaching the level where the boy was.
HAUSAS CAME INTO THE PICTURE
“I returned to the scene at 8.30am to observe work was progressing speedily. The assurance that the boy was alive sustained, by constant communication with him and his regular demand for tea and biscuits, were the fuel the rescuers needed to fire on with the rescue effort.
“About 3pm, the work had gone up to 60 feet, with approximately 28 more feet to get to the level where the lad was.
THE LAST EFFORT
“The young man, Hassan, a motor mechanic, who was in Ezeoke to repair a vehicle, was also attracted to the scene. He went in, opened the connecting window and lowered a sack with ropes at the two sides and asked the boy to get into the sack and he started pulling it. After a while, there were shouts of joy, because the boy was now in the new well, ready to move to the surface. The atmosphere was charged! The young man carried the boy on his shoulders and painstakingly climbed up to the surface.
“Here was Frank alive. The doctor later confirmed that the boy had no fracture, no internal injury, no serious wound, save minor bruises on his left hand and at his back.”
MRS. CHRISTY NZEDURU SPEAKS
“I can’t thank God enough for this miracle. I do not know what the world would have said about my husband andmyself, if this boy had died!”
ENDOWMENT FUND CREATED FOR HIM
The Bishop announced the immediate founding of Miracle Endowment Fund. Kicking it off, the former Deputy Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Dr Jonas Okeke, announced automatic scholarship for the boy, from primary to university level. He also announced a N1 million donation towards the endowment.
Sir Ikenna Chukwuocha also announced full scholarship for the boy, to the university level. Tochi Ihekwoaba also announced scholarship up to secondary school level. Some others gave cash to boost the fund.
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