Against the backdrop of a chilly September evening in the farmland north of Edmonton, Andy Shwetz encountered an unexpected danger that left him forever grateful to be able to tell his tale.
Shwetz’s ordeal unfolded during the rigorous harvest season. On the 26th of September, in the fading light of the day, he was occupied in a heavy harrowing task, busily dispersing straw across a combined field in Waskatenau. The field bore systematic marks indicating the location of an old town water well, which Shwetz had previously filled with rocks and clay.
The farmer was cautiously evaluating the possibility of harrowing over the well’s location when the ground unexpectedly gave way beneath him. He found himself plunged into five feet of icy, muddy water. It was a precarious situation — cold water up to his neck and the ground towering a good 14 feet above the surface.
The dire realization of his predicament dawned upon him. He was isolated, only with his cell phone left idly on the tractor seat for company. His family was preoccupied in a separate field, blissfully unaware of his peril. As the expected frost started to emerge and time ticked on, the prospect of the chilly night ahead only added to his mounting concerns.
Hope did, however, bubble up within him. He found solace in the fact that he had landed uninjured, feet first into the well. A calm resolve to climb out of his predicament guided him through the hours to follow. He attempted repeatedly to surmount the well’s cement casing using a survey stake he had fallen in with.
However, the cold was relentless, gradually sapping his strength and resolve. Thoughts about his family and friends, the prospect of death, and what might become of his loved ones without him plagued his mind.
As hours stretched on, Shwetz concocted a survival plan, leveraging the stake, he managed to prop himself above the water, doing his best to stay warm, and intending to wait till dawn for rescue.
Meanwhile, his wife Shawnalee was frantic with worry, noticing his absence during the night. Her search led her to the field, where the sight of the running tractor and her husband’s dead cell phone filled her with dread. Her call of distress rallied the neighbours and their prompt search ensued, eventually leading to them hearing Shwetz’s desperate cries for help emanating from the well.
The harrowing rescue operation involved Waskatenau’s fire chief, Casey Caron, and a team of volunteer firefighters. Their simple but effective plan of using a fire hose to lift Shwetz out of the well succeeded, albeit after Shwetz had spent an excruciating eight hours in the well.
Following his ordeal, Shwetz spent nearly a week in the hospital, battling rhabdomyolysis, a condition caused by damaged muscle tissue releasing proteins and electrolytes into the blood, a consequence of his body’s prolonged struggle to keep him afloat.
Reflecting on his experience, Shwetz expressed gratitude for his life and newfound appreciation for the simplicities of everyday living—every meal, every moment now brimming with significance. His subsequent days were marked by slow recuperation, with his damaged feet serving as a potent reminder of his ordeal.
Now, armed with a newfound sense of purpose and caution, Shwetz is keen to spread awareness among fellow rural dwellers about the latent dangers of such discarded wells. His message is loud and clear: his experience could have struck anyone, and everyone must be prepared.
