A 25-year-old Ethiopian domestic worker sustained a fractured leg while protecting a seven-year-old boy after they both fell into a well behind a residence in Fujairah’s Merashid area on Saturday. The worker, who was supervising the child, held onto him inside the well and supported herself against a metal structure to prevent them from falling further until emergency responders arrived.

The child, who suffers from hyperactivity, was visiting his maternal family’s home accompanied by his mother. Due to his condition, the family had assigned two domestic workers to monitor him closely. The worker involved in the incident had recently joined the household and was reportedly unaware of the well’s presence behind the house, which was covered with boards and stone slabs.

According to relatives, the boy suddenly ran toward the area where the well was located, with the domestic worker following to keep him under supervision. Unaware of the risk, they both stepped onto the well cover, which collapsed under their combined weight, causing them to fall into the opening.

The worker immediately called for assistance and continued to protect the child until police, Fujairah Civil Defence, and National Ambulance teams arrived. She handed the child over to rescuers first before being extracted herself. The boy was hospitalized but discharged the following day, while the domestic worker remains under medical care at Fujairah Hospital for her leg fracture.

Colonel Khalid Rabie Al Hammoudi, Deputy Director of Fujairah Civil Defence, visited both the child’s family and the domestic worker at the hospital, offering well wishes for their recovery. He reiterated the department’s commitment to supporting humanitarian incidents and assisting community members in need.

The incident highlights the risks domestic workers may face when unfamiliar with property hazards and underscores the challenges in managing children with special needs within home environments.