Death of Julen Roselló
DateJanuary 13, 2019 (2019-01-13)
LocationTotalán, Málaga, Spain
CauseFalling down an illegally drilled shaft

Julen Roselló García, a two-year-old Andalusian boy, fell 109 m (358 ft) into a narrow shaft near Totalán in the province of Málaga, on January 13, 2019. The shaft, illegally excavated, was 110 m (360 ft) deep and had a diameter of 25 cm (9.8 in).[1][2] To carry out a rescue, it was necessary to drill a parallel conduit of a greater diameter, in an operation in which more than 300 people intervened, plus numerous heavy machinery.[3] The operation received international media coverage.[4][5][6] After several setbacks during drilling, on 26 January 2019 at 1:25 am, Roselló's body was found between two layers of earth.

Disappearance

Roselló disappeared on January 13, 2019 playing while his parents, José and Vicky, were having a picnic on their cousin's boyfriend's property in Totalán, Spain. Vicki was in the midst of calling the burger restaurant where she worked to inform them she wouldn't be going in that day. Jose was preparing food and collecting wood when Roselló ran off. He fell into a 107-metre-deep shaft with a diameter of 25 to 30 cm. The shaft had been drilled in December 2018 by an entrepreneur searching for ground water, without the permission of the authorities. It was not secured afterwards,[7] though the owner said he had covered the hole with rocks. Jose heard him cry and when he reached down not realizing the depth of the hole, sand fell and he no longer heard him cry.[8][9][10] Hikers close by heard their screams and quickly called for help.

At 1:57 pm on January 13, through a call to the emergency center in Málaga, a woman warned that a young child had fallen through a small hole, 25 cm (9.8 in) in diameter.[11] The ground of the well Roselló fell in is very unstable and experts determined that any operation had to be done with great care to avoid landslides.[12] A device and a plan to rescue him was set in motion, moving a machine, drilling piles of 75 tons, together with other heavy machinery, to the site to reduce the terrain to excavate a parallel shaft and, once the level where he was believed to be, to excavate a horizontal tunnel by miners of the Central Salvage Brigade Mining of Asturias, specialists in underground rescues. It was necessary to build a special capsule so that the miners could move to the place.[13][14]

Attempted rescue

Initial work and preparation related to the rescue were carried out without any inconvenience. However, later a series of setbacks arose that extended the task, much to the anguish of relatives and rescuers.[15]

Initial attempts to reach Roselló were unsuccessful due to the shaft being blocked at a depth of 71 m (233 ft). This was discovered when a camera was lowered into the shaft. Rescuers only managed to remove about 30 cm (12 in) of rubble before deciding to pursue alternative rescue plans.[16] Construction of the vertical shaft took several days due to the rocky nature of the earth. On January 24, 2019, the vertical shaft was completed and rescuers started excavating the horizontal gallery.[17]

Explosives were used as a last resort as rescuers could not break through the rocks using conventional tools.[18] First, the excavation of the parallel tunnel was slower than had been thought at the beginning, since the terrain turned out to be harder than expected and the use of the machines had to be managed in order not to damage them.[19] With the tunnel already built, the second difficulty arose with the jacketing.[20]

The pipes that were planned to be introduced inside the well, to ensure this, did not fit, due to discontinuities in the walls of the gallery. This circumstance forced the rescue teams to drill the tunnel again to widen it. The Spanish authorities received offers from dozens of international companies to collaborate in the search, including the Swedish geolocation firm Stockholm Precision Tools AB, which participated in the rescue of the 33 miners trapped for 69 days in the north of Chile in 2010.[21]

The rescue operation was carried out in a few days, an engineering task that, usually, would be extended for months. The dimensions of the work were reflected in some figures offered by the government delegate in Andalusia, when he assured that more than 40,000 tons of dirt had been moved and a height equivalent to that of the Giralda in Seville was being excavated. The inventor of the rescue capsule of the Chilean miners offered his help in this rescue.[22]

Recovery

On January 26 at 1:25 am local time, rescuers located Roselló's body in the well.[23] Autopsy revealed that he suffered a "severe head trauma" from the 71-metre fall and presumably died instantly.[24]

Search and rescue team

The Mining Rescue Brigade, which traveled from Asturias, made available to the rescue eight of its best elite miners. The elite brigade has received several awards and distinctions for their work, such as the Gold Medal for Merit in Work (1972), the Silver Medal of the Principality of Asturias (1990) and Silver Medal of the Red Cross (2005).[25]

Uncertainties

One of the biggest questions about the rescue in the well of Totalán is the origin of the ground plug that hindered access to Roselló.[26] Experts understand that this ground plug comes from the sides of the well and was dragged by his body during his fall, so it could be a landslide. Another theory is that, as it is an abandoned well, it is normal for the lateral walls to fall. Specialists say that it is understandable that the humidity, due to the effects of the rain, will wear away the walls and lose consistency, causing the sand or the surrounding earth to detach inside the pit.[26]

Nobody could explain, of the 300 people who worked in Roselló's rescue, how the plug of dirt was so compact.[27] A series of questions arose that the experts tried to answer. They say that it is unlikely that the plug was formed by the dirt dragged by his fall, given that the type of perforation is supposed to be clean, with no remains of sand or dirt. Another question is how quickly the plug has been compacted, assuring the experts that if it were dry sand, as it seemed to be, it would have taken weeks to form, and in this case it did in the first 24 hours. Even so, one of the certainties that exist is that from where the plug is to the bottom of the well there is a distance of 39 m (128 ft).[27]

The High Court of Justice of Andalusia decided to open a lawsuit after a report of the Civil Guard, investigating the circumstances which led to the accident.[28]

Independent of the rescue in the interior of the well, the Civil Guard began an investigation to reconstruct the facts, as happens in any other disappearance. A court in Málaga opened proceedings in the courtroom known as the Julen Case.[29] The Ninth Court of Instruction of Málaga opened proceedings to know the exact circumstances in which Roselló fell on the well. The proceedings were initiated after an attestation made by the Civil Guard after taking the parents' declaration of the minor, the owner of the land and the person who dug the well in mid-December of the previous year.[30]

Media treatment

The accident and subsequent recovery of Roselló received extensive media coverage by Spanish and foreign media. Referring to coverage on television networks, the event was addressed in both news programs and morning and afternoon magazines that recorded audience records.[31] El programa de Ana Rosa de Telecinco expanded its regular schedule and made special programs.[32] Also Sálvame, another Spanish program, covered the events of the final hours of the rescue.[33]

Media coverage generated various criticisms from other journalists who described it as a "media circus" and in social networks, accusing various media outlets of encouraging morbidity and sensationalism.[34][35] The Andalusian Audiovisual Council announced that it would study the media coverage of the case due to a possible violation of the rights of the minor's relatives.[36]

Hoax denial

On 24 January, the Civil Guard, through its official Twitter account, was forced to deny a hoax that went viral and circulated through social networks, especially WhatsApp, claiming that there was an alternative theory about what happened that the Civil Guard would be investigating and that it had forbidden journalists to bring it to light.[37]

Timeline

  • On Sunday, 13 January 2019, Julen Roselló García, 2, was spending the day with his family when, around 2pm, he fell into a well located on a private farm. A group of pedestrians heard his parents' screams and called the emergency team immediately.[38]
  • On 14 January, a camera goes down to 73 meters deep and locates a bag of sweets and a plastic cup inside the well, which belong to Roselló. Rescue teams can not get down any more by running into a hard dirt plug, assuming he is under it.[39]
  • On 15 January, a group of technicians and specialists was called, opting for the opening of a lateral and a horizontal tunnel between 50 and 80 m (160 and 260 ft), as the best option to reach Roselló. The preparatory works begin.[40]
  • On 16 January, it is confirmed by DNA tests that hair from Roselló has been found inside the well. It transpires that the works for the well did not have permission from the Council of Andalucía and his father, Jose, appears before the media to say that he and his wife, Vicki, keep hope alive.[41]
  • On 17 January, the rescue teams decided to suspend the construction of a horizontal tunnel due to landslides and hardness of the terrain. The level of the hill was reduced by 15 m (49 ft) and the construction of two vertical tunnels was then decided.[42]
  • On 18 January, the heavy machinery drilled to open a vertical tunnel parallel to the well and they run into a slate rock mass at 18 meters depth, which again complicates the rescue work.[43]
  • On 23 January, the rescue team reduces the diameter of the pipe intended for vertical drilling.[2]
  • On 25 January, the miners advance in the final search in the well. The rescue team excavates almost 3 m (9.8 ft) of the 3.8 m (12 ft) that they had to drill to reach the bottom and have to make up to four microblasts to break hard rock (quartzite).[2]
  • On 26 January at 1:25 am, the rescue teams accessed the point of the well where Roselló was sought and located his body between two layers of earth.[44] A judicial commission was activated.[45]

See also

  • Kathy Fiscus (1945–1949), American child who fell into a well and died
  • Alfredo Rampi (1975–1981; nicknamed Alfredino), Italian child who fell into a well and died
  • Jessica McClure (born 1986; nicknamed Baby Jessica), American child who fell into a well in 1987 and was rescued
  • Rayan Aourram (born 2016 or 2017; died 2022), Moroccan child who fell into a well and died

References

  1. ↑ Sánchez, Nacho (14 January 2019). "Un centenar de efectivos trata de rescatar a un niño de dos años de un pozo en Málaga" [A hundred agents try to rescue a two-year-old boy from a well in Málaga]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 "Así te hemos contado el rescate de Julen en el pozo de Totalán" [This is how we told you about the rescue of Julen in the well of Totalán]. El País (in Spanish). 22 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  3. ↑ Pastor, Antonio (22 January 2019). "Julen, nueve días de infierno en el pozo de Málaga" [Julen, nine days of hell in the well of Málaga]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  4. ↑ Jiménez, Julen (18 January 2019). "Llega más maquinaria pesada para la megaobra de ingeniería que rescatará a Julen del pozo" [More heavy machinery arrives for the engineering mega project that will rescue Julen from the well]. El Español (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  5. ↑ "Medios de todo el mundo se hacen eco de la operación de rescate de Julen" [Media from around the world echo the rescue operation of Julen]. Diario Sur (in Spanish). 15 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  6. ↑ García, L. (21 January 2019). "Los medios deseamos poder contar un milagro" [The media want to be able to tell a miracle]. Málaga Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  7. ↑ "In Brunnen gefallener Julen - Erneuter Rückschlag bei Grabung" [Julen fallen in the well – Another setback at excavation]. Die Welt (in German). 19 January 2019.
  8. ↑ "Kind im Bohrloch: Nach 100 Stunden ist noch immer kein Tunnel gebaut" [Child in the hole: After 100 hours, no tunnel is still built]. Berliner Zeitung (in German). 17 January 2019.
  9. ↑ "Junge in 110 Meter tiefem Schacht vermisst: Seine Eltern haben schon ein Kind verloren" [Boy missing in 110 meter deep shaft: His parents have already lost a child]. Stern (in German). 15 January 2019.
  10. ↑ "Drilling machines help frantic search for trapped Spanish toddler days after he fell down well". The Independent. 18 January 2019.
  11. ↑ Jabois, Manuel (21 January 2019). "Un niño ha caído por un agujero pequeño. Hace falta un rescate" [A child has fallen through a small hole. A rescue operation is needed.]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  12. ↑ "La complicadísima operación de rescate de Julen" [The very complicated rescue operation of Julen]. Diario Sur (in Spanish). 14 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  13. ↑ Sánchez, Nacho (18 January 2019). "La perforadora que hará el túnel para rescatar a Julen llega a Totalán" [The drill that will make the tunnel to rescue Julen reaches Totalán]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  14. ↑ Martínez, Juan (22 January 2019). "El ingenioso bombero que ideó el artilugio que podría rescatar a Julen" [The ingenious fireman who devised the device that could rescue Julen]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  15. ↑ "Todo lo que se sabe sobre el rescate de Julen, el niño de dos años atrapado en un pozo" [All that is known about the rescue of Julen, the two-year-old boy trapped in a well]. El HuffPost (in Spanish). 17 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  16. ↑ Jabois, Manuel; Sánchez, Nacho (24 January 2019). "Julen Roselló rescue: "This is a work of humanitarian civil engineering"". El País. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  17. ↑ Sánchez, Nacho (24 January 2019). "Julen Roselló rescue: The 10 key factors of the ongoing mission". El País. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  18. ↑ Sánchez, Nacho (25 January 2019). "Julen Roselló rescue mission: miners nearly done digging tunnel to trapped toddler". El País.
  19. ↑ Cenizo, Néstor (18 January 2019). "Certezas y dudas del rescate de Julen en el pozo de Totalán" [Certainties and doubts of the rescue of Julen in the well of Totalán]. El Diario (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  20. ↑ Alsedo, Quico (25 January 2019). "Rescate de Julen, la recta final: los mineros ya están en el pozo paralelo" [Julen's rescue, the final stretch: the miners are already in the parallel well]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  21. ↑ "La empresa que halló a los mineros chilenos busca al niño español caído en un pozo" [The company that found the Chilean miners is looking for the Spanish boy fallen into a pit]. Perfil (in Spanish). 16 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  22. ↑ Torres, Fernando (21 January 2019). "El inventor de la cápsula de rescate de los mineros chilenos envía un mensaje de ánimo y ofrece su ayuda" [The inventor of the rescue capsule of the Chilean miners sends a message of encouragement and offers his help]. Diario Sur (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  23. ↑ Char Adams (26 January 2019). "Toddler Julen Rosello Found Dead 13 Days After Falling Down Well in Spain". People Magazine. Yahoo.
  24. ↑ "Little Julen suffered 'severe head trauma', Malaga autopsy shows". The Olive Press. 26 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  25. ↑ S, N. (25 January 2019). "Estos son los ocho mineros que buscan a Julen" [These are the eight miners looking for Julen]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  26. 1 2 Jabois, Manuel (25 January 2019). "Rescate de Julen: mineros a 73 metros bajo tierra, a martillazos contra la roca y reciclando su propio oxígeno" [Julen rescue: Miners 73 meters underground, hammering against rock and recycling their own oxygen]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  27. 1 2 "El tapón de tierra en el pozo, principal obstáculo en el rescate de Julen: nadie se explica por qué es tan compacto" [The plug of dirt in the well, the main obstacle in the rescue of Julen: Nobody can explain why it is so compact]. La Sexta (in Spanish). 24 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  28. ↑ ""Humanitarian engineering work" to find Julen complete ten days". Navms. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  29. ↑ Sánchez, Nacho (23 January 2019). "Un juzgado malagueño abre diligencias en el caso Julen" [A court in Malaga opens proceedings in the Julen case]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  30. ↑ Jabois, Manuel (17 January 2019). "La búsqueda de Julen: no hay respiro en Totalán" [The search for Julen: there is no respite in Totalán]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  31. ↑ Culebras, S. (24 January 2019). "El rescate de Julen dispara las audiencias de informativos y programas de televisión" [The rescue of Julen shoots the audiences of informative and television programs]. El Confidencial (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  32. ↑ Bustamante, Elena (25 January 2019). "Ana Rosa suspende su fin de semana por Julen para hacer dos programas especiales" [Ana Rosa suspends her weekend by Julen to make two special programs]. El Español (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  33. ↑ "Duras críticas a Sálvame por tratar el rescate de Julen, el niño atrapado en un pozo" [Harsh criticism of Sálvame for covering to rescue Julen, the boy trapped in a well]. ABC (in Spanish). 26 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  34. ↑ Amón, Rubén (26 January 2019). "El reloj de arena enterró a Julen" [The hourglass buried Julen]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  35. ↑ Méndez, M. (25 January 2019). "Críticas a Antena 3 por su ventana en pantalla con el rescate de Julen: "El culmen del morbo y el amarillismo"" [Criticism to Antena 3 for its sidescreen with the rescue of Julen: "The culmination of morbid and yellow journalism"]. El Diario (in Spanish). Vertele. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  36. ↑ "El Consejo Audiovisual analizará el tratamiento mediático sobre el caso Julen" [The Audiovisual Council will analyze the media treatment on the Julen case]. Público (in Spanish). 25 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  37. ↑ "La Guardia Civil desmiente el bulo sobre Julen que circula por WhatsApp" [The Civil Guard denies the hoax over Julen that circulates on WhatsApp]. El Periódico (in Spanish). 24 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  38. ↑ "Julen, un niño muy activo enamorado de su triciclo y de jugar a la pelota" [Julen, a very active boy in love with his tricycle and playing ball]. El Confidencial (in Spanish). 14 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  39. ↑ "Hallan la bolsa de chuches de Julen pero ni rastro del pequeño" [Julen's bag of sweets found but no trace of the little boy]. Telecinco (in Spanish). 14 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  40. ↑ "Los equipos de rescate abren un túnel lateral para llegar a Julen, el niño de dos años que cayó en un pozo de Totalán" [The rescue teams open a side tunnel to reach Julen, the two-year-old boy who fell into a well of Totalán] (in Spanish). RTVE. 15 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  41. ↑ "Las pruebas de ADN confirman que el pelo encontrado en el pozo es de Julen" [DNA tests confirm that the hair found in the well is from Julen]. Telecinco (in Spanish). 16 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  42. ↑ Bellaco, Daniel (17 January 2019). "Se suspende el túnel horizontal para el rescate de Julen al encontrar rocas durante su excavación" [The horizontal tunnel for the rescue of Julen is suspended when finding rocks during its excavation]. Digital Sevilla (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  43. ↑ Guerrero, Jorge (18 January 2019). "Obstáculos ralentizan búsqueda de niño español caído en un pozo" [Obstacles slow down search of Spanish child fallen into a pit]. Agence France Presse (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  44. ↑ "Encuentran muerto a Julen en el pozo de Totalán" [Julen found dead in the well of Totalán]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 26 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  45. ↑ Sánchez, Nacho (26 January 2019). "Hallado el cuerpo sin vida de Julen en el pozo de Totalán" [Found the lifeless body of Julen in the well of Totalán]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 January 2019.
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