A woman trapped down a well for 16 days has been rescued by firefighters in central China.


38 year old Su Qixiu fell in to the 4m deep abandoned well in Zhongfeng Village in Henan province on 1 September, but was only discovered 16 days later when a fellow villager heard her cries.

According to Xinhua news agency, Su survived by eating raw corn and drinking the rainwater that fell in to the well. Firefighter Chen Kui described the rescue: "Before I even got to the bottom she stretched out her hand to me. She had great determination to survive and she was quite conscious. The first thing she said to me was 'I'm hungry,' and then that her back hurt. Her face was very pale and she seemed very weak."

Her doctor, Ran Xiansuo, said that Su at first was unable to speak and has lost considerable weight, but her condition has now stabilised.


Written and presented by Alfred Joyner