Boy, 7, Survives a Plunge Into 50-Foot Hole

A 7-year-old boy survived a harrowing experience Thursday when he tumbled into a 50-foot deep hole in the 1800 block of El Cajon Boulevard.

The boy, Aaron Hoffman, appeared to be alert but shaken when he was brought to the surface at 4:07 p.m. after about 50 minutes, fire Capt. Al Macdonald said. Firefighters used ropes, pulleys and a 100-foot aerial boom ladder to rescue the boy.

The boy was taken to Children’s Hospital. A hospital spokesman later said he was in good condition and had suffered no serious injuries.

Fire officials said the hole had apparently been dug for the removal of a gasoline storage tank on property that formerly housed an auto dealership. The Fire Department was investigating why the area had not been secured, Macdonald said.