4-year-old boy, his dog rescued from well in Mississippi

JACKSON, Miss. -- After spending three hours in an old water well, a 4-year-old boy was rescued along with his dog in southern Mississippi as emergency workers cheered.

Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency director Clifford Galey said Tuesday that Gabe Allbritton was in the yard with his mother when he disappeared Monday afternoon.

The two were walking across the yard when Gabe fell into an old water well about 24 feet deep and a little more than a foot in diameter.

"Just as soon as she seen him disappear, she called 911," Galey said.

Rescuers tried several times to hoist the boy up with a rope. He said they finally made a seat with the rope, and the youngster climbed in and was pulled to safety.

"He was wanting his mother, and she couldn't get to him. We had a bunch of good first responders talking to him, keeping him calm," Galey said. "He actually cried one or two times."

Galey said the boy's mother said she did not know the well was there, and there were conflicting accounts of whether it ever had been closed off.

The dog was pulled up next when it stepped into a loop that was tightened quickly, Galey said.

The dog had been missing for about a week, and the boy must have heard him bark, Galey said.

He did not know what type of dog it was but said it looked like a poodle. Galey said he spoke to the boy's mother Tuesday, and her son was taken to the hospital but is OK.

"He's got a couple of bumps and bruises and scratches, but he's doing fine today," the emergency official said.