Man rescued after falling into abandoned well in California

This Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, photo from video released by the Ventura County Fire Department shows firefighters beginning the process of extracting an 87-year-old man, seen at the bottom of a well who fell some 25 feet (8 meters) down the abandoned well on his property near Simi Valley, Calif. The Ventura County Star reported Monday that the man was apparently mowing the lawn at his home when he fell into a hole previously covered for over a decade. (Ventura County Fire Department via AP)

VENTURA, Calif. (AP) - Firefighters have rescued an 87-year-old man with minor injuries after he fell into an abandoned well in a southern California neighborhood.

The Ventura County Star reported Monday that the man was apparently mowing the lawn Monday at his home near Simi Valley when he fell into a hole previously covered for over a decade.

A woman in the area says she was in her car where she kept hearing a sound before following the voice, discovering the man and calling 911.

Ventura County Fire officials say the man was alert and able to communicate with firefighters when they arrived to find him about 25 feet (8 meters) below the surface.

Authorities say the man's legs were initially buried in mud about 3-feet (1-meter) deep but he was able to dig himself out and stay above the mud.

Fire officials say they used a ladder truck with ropes attached to keep the man from sinking deeper into the mud and used a pulley system to free him.

Authorities say the man was reunited with family about an hour later before being taken by ambulance to Los Robles Regional Medical Center with cuts and bruises to his legs.