Firefighters in Massachusetts carried out a dramatic rescue after a five-year-old boy became stuck high in the branches of a backyard tree, perched an astonishing 35 feet above the ground.
The rescuers in the small town of Rehoboth, Massachusetts, are used to handling the occasional feline in distress but retrieving a child from a tree was a very different kind of emergency.
‘Everyone knows fire departments respond to cats stuck in a tree,’ the Rehoboth Fire Department wrote in a statement posted to Facebook. ‘Well today was a first for us — we responded to a kid stuck in a tree. We successfully removed the little fella from the tree and placed him safely on the ground where he belongs.’
The ‘little fella’ in question was Malachi Eckerson, an adventurous and clearly determined kindergartner whose climbing expedition outside his family’s home almost turned tragic.
Malachi’s mother, Hayley Eckerson, said her son managed to climb the tree within a matter of minutes.
Hayley recalled how quickly her son’s curiosity and energy led him into trouble.
‘I think he put a board up against a tree that he had found from his daddy’s wood pile, which got him to the lowest branches,’ she told 12 News. ‘And he scampered his way up to the top and called me over excited to show me.’
What began as a proud moment for the youngster quickly turned into panic – and while the climb up had been thrilling, getting back down was another story entirely.
Firefighters in Massachusetts carried out a dramatic rescue after a five-year-old boy became stuck high in the branches of a backyard tree, perched an astonishing 35ft above the ground
The Rehoboth Fire Department answered the call, dispatching their ladder truck to the family’s home
‘We responded with the ladder truck and we were able to get the truck down the driveway. It was long and narrow, but we were able to rescue him,’ Fire Chief Frank Barresi said
Once Malachi realized he was stuck fear began to set in. But despite the growing concern below, Hayley noted how her son remained calm.
‘He was perched comfortably on a branch holding onto another branch,’ she told reporters. ‘So we knew he was stable for the moment.’
Realizing they needed help fast, Hayley and husband, Nate, wasted no time dialing 911.
The Rehoboth Fire Department answered the call, dispatching their ladder truck to the family’s home.
The rescue was anything but routine with the family’s long, narrow driveway posing something of a challenge for the emergency vehicle.
‘We responded with the ladder truck and we were able to get the truck down the driveway. It was long and narrow, but we were able to rescue him,’ Fire Chief Frank Barresi told local outlet WJAR.
Barresi said one of the department’s captains carefully secured Malachi with a rope and a safety belt before lifting him out of the treetop and guiding him safely back down the ladder to solid ground.
‘He’s safe. That’s what matters,’ Chief Barresi stated simply.
Malachi came away from the ordeal without a scratch – but perhaps an important life lesson learned
The little boy had been playing in the woods when he decided to climb one of the trees
Little Malachi loves the outdoors and has a rather adventurous streak when it comes to playing
‘We’re going to tell the story about Malachi climbing the tree for a very long time,’ dad, Nate, said
Mom, Hayley, noted how her son remained calm throughout the ordeal
Malachi is seen playing with his two sisters – well away from the trees!
Malachi is promising to stay on the ground… for now
Malachi came away from the ordeal without a scratch – but perhaps an important life lesson learned.
‘We’re going to tell the story about Malachi climbing the tree for a very long time,’ Nate promised.
In the aftermath of the incident, the family said they plan to make a few adjustments to the yard to prevent any repeat performances.
The wood pile, Malachi’s makeshift ladder, will no doubt be off-limits for the foreseeable future.