EMS rushed to save a 3-year-old boy who fell down a 50-foot pipe before suffocating. A brave teenage boy bravely squeezed down the narrow shaft when no one else could.

Gabriel Ruiu, 3, fell into a well in his Romanian family’s yard, shocking them. Despite miraculously surviving the 50-foot fall, the boy was trapped in the narrow shaft. Eventually, the child suffered hypothermia, oxygen deprivation, and shock. Segarcea emergency responders did everything to save Gabriel.

They repeatedly lowered a rope to the boy and excavated the ground to free him, fearing lethal vibrations from cutting the pipe. Every attempt failed. After 11 hours, they almost gave up. Gabriel’s parents were distraught and expecting the worst as time ran out. Just then, a skinny seventh-grader emerged from the crowd and made a shocking suggestion.

When walking home from school, 14-year-old Cristian Becheanu noticed the noise. He immediately offered to retrieve the child from the well after locals informed him. CVL Press reported that the teen believed he was the only person slim enough and strong enough to squeeze through the narrow shaft and rescue the toddler.

“I heard what happened and came from there with a friend to have a look,” Cristian said. “They were talking about someone having to enter the well and I said that I have the courage to enter. At first they didn’t let me.”

With no other choice, firefighters harnessed Cristian’s chest and roped his ankles. The men reviewed the plan and mentally prepared Cristian for the terrifying situation for a few seconds. Just small enough to fit in, he could easily get stuck in the well, especially on his way out.

Well, there were about three who also said that they were willing to go after Gabi. But when they looked down into the well, they changed their minds. He was the only one left,” said vice mayor Nicolae Tutunaru.

The firefighters lowered Cristian head-first into the pipe with his arms outstretched, knowing this could be their last chance to save Gabriel. After reaching the bottom, he signaled for rescuers to pull him up. He was quickly pulled from the well, clutching Gabriel’s arms.

The crowd went crazy over the terrifying rescue. Gabriel’s father quickly grabbed the terrified toddler and rushed him up the pit to his worried mother. The child was hospitalized for hypoxia and cervical spinal injuries from the fall. Luckily, he recovered fully.

Cristian was surrounded by reporters eager to learn about the miraculous rescue. After grabbing the toddler, he shook his feet twice to signal firefighters to pull him up.

“Were you afraid that maybe you’ll drop him?” a reporter asked.

“No, no I wasn’t afraid because I had a good grip on him,” Cristian replied.

“Well, were you afraid a little bit at the beginning when you entered?” another interviewer asked.

“The first time just now, yes, but then I wasn’t afraid anymore,” the boy said.

Cristian told reporters that the rescue inspired him to become a firefighter to help others. Though small, he has shown himself to be capable and more courageous than all the other volunteers who looked down and changed their minds.