Man Survives Fall Into Well

A 44-year-old Jamul man was in serious condition Saturday night after falling 50 feet down a well. Gary Edwards was attempting to extract pipe from an abandoned well when the cement cap crumbled under his weight and he fell into the hole.

Chief Frank Favro of the Jamul Volunteer Fire Department said Edwards was extracted by special equipment in a stretcher designed to protect the injured man from aggravating possible back injuries. Sixteen Jamul volunteer firefighters, using a rig from the California Department of Forestry, participated in the rescue.

A neighbor, who tried to rescue Edwards with a rope, also fell into the well and was rescued along with Edwards, Favro said. The unidentified man was unhurt, he said.

Edwards was flown to Sharp Memorial Hospital by Life Flight helicopter. A hospital spokeswoman said the man was in serious but stable condition with a broken jaw, cuts and bruises and possible back and internal injuries.