Rescuers Pluck ‘Lucky’ Girl From N.J. Well

A 10-year-old girl who fell through the rotting cover of a well and plunged more than 20 feet into chilly water Monday clung to pipes until rescuers could pluck her to safety.

After throwing the girl a float, a police officer was lowered into the 3-footwide well to rescue Eleni Diakoumopoulos. The girl was treated for hypothermia at a hospital and released.

“She’s a lucky girl,” said patrolman Shaun Golden, who spoke to her through the 20-minute ordeal.

Golden said Eleni and her younger sister were playing in front of their house when she stood on the well’s plywood cover and fell through.