After 11 hours of failed attempts, a local teen hero saved a 3-year-old from a well

It’s a story of "extraordinary courage" from 2013 that continues to circulate online, and for good reason. In a town in Romania, a three-year-old boy named Gabriel had fallen into a deep, narrow well. For 11 agonizing hours, a large team of professional rescue workers gathered at the scene, trying every method they could to retrieve him. Every attempt had failed.

As the situation grew more desperate, an unlikely hero stepped forward. Cristian Marian Becheanu, a local teenager, volunteered to be lowered into the hole.

Video of the incredible event, which was widely circulated, showed the tense scene. Rescue workers tied Becheanu to ropes and carefully lowered him into the dark, narrow opening as the crowd watched. After a tense wait, a cheer erupted as Becheanu emerged, holding the three-year-old boy safely in his arms.

At the time, Becheanu humbly reflected on the act, writing, "I did what had to be done. I am proud of that act."

According to a report from CVL Press at the time, Becheanu, then a student in Dolj County, was celebrated as a national hero. He received numerous awards, including diplomas, promises of summer trips, a new bicycle, a tablet, and even a monthly allowance from a local humanitarian foundation.

A well Canva

"Now, thanks to the courage of this young man, an entire country watched us and admired his courage, and that makes us proud of him and we, the Dolj County Council, will be by his side and support him," said Ion Prioteasa, the-then president of the Dolj County Council.

But the most significant reward was the support for his future. During the ceremonies, Becheanu shared that his dream was to become a firefighter. Officials immediately pledged to help him.

"He is an example for today's young people and that is why we will be by his side and we will give him the opportunity to go to a camp... and support... to fulfill his dream of becoming a firefighter," said Alina Ionescu, the local director of the County Directorate for Sport and Youth.

A group of young people volunteeringCanva

Becheanu, in turn, promised not to let them down. "I want to thank all those who are by my side and I promise that I will not disappoint them," he stated.

Now, more than a decade later, it's clear he made good on that promise. Recent reports from Romania confirm that Cristian Marian Becheanu achieved his dream. He is now Sergeant Major Cristian Marian Becheanu, a professional firefighter and rescuer with ISU Dolj, the county's official emergency inspectorate. He didn't just save one life that day; he turned his moment of courage into a career of service.

This article originally appeared earlier this year.