A 32-year-old woman has been hospitalised after falling into a 60-foot well in the Agric Road, Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State,Southwest Nigeria, reportedly as a result of depression.
The Controller General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
According to Adeseye, the agency had received a distress call in the early hours of Wednesday about the incident.
She noted that preliminary findings showed that the victim had wandered into the area before falling into the well.
Accompanying video of the incident sighted by our correspondent showed the moment firefighters descended into the well and rescued the woman, who had sustained injuries to her head with visible blood stains.
She added that upon arrival at the scene of the incident, firefighters immediately conducted a rescue operation and rescued the lady alive.
Adeseye stated, “A distress call was received regarding a reportedly depressed female adult, approximately 32 years old, who accidentally fell into an uncovered well about 60 feet deep.
“The victim was said to have wandered from a nearby building before the incident occurred while she was sitting on the edge of the well.
“Upon arrival, the rescue crew immediately commenced operations and successfully rescued the victim alive. She was subsequently taken to a nearby hospital for medical attention.”
The LSFRS boss noted that the cause of the accidental fall was attributed to a depressed condition.
“The probable cause was an accidental fall resulting from a depressed condition,” Adeseye concluded.
Depression and associated mental health issues have been attributed to the worsening economic conditions, which have continued to put pressure on many individuals.
Similarly, it reported in September 2024 that the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, recorded a patient admission increase by almost 100 per cent in 2023, with experts linking the surge to economic hardship, unemployment, and social instability.
Experts have urged the government to intensify awareness campaigns and establish more community-based mental health centres, stressing that untreated depression often leads to tragic incidents like suicide attempts and self-harm.
Source: Punch News
