N.H. Crews Rescue Toddler Trapped Under Tombstone

SOMERSWORTH, N.H. -- A 3-year-old toddler was transported to Wentworth-Douglass Hospital Wednesday morning after being pinned beneath a 500-pound gravestone that had fallen on her legs during a walk in the city's Forest Glade Cemetery.

According to Fire Lt. Kenneth Vincent, a call first came in at 10:41 a.m. and the Police Department was on scene just a minute later at 10:42 a.m. The Fire Department arrived at 10:43 a.m.

"It was definitely a quick response," he said, estimating the girl was freed only 3 to 4 minutes later.

The gravestone, which weighed at least 500 pounds, was initially unable to be removed by the responding officers alone.

It took a combination effort of four firefighters and police officers to free the girl from the tombstone.

American Medical Response later transported the toddler to WDH with non-life threatening injuries. According to the girl's aunt, the 3-year-old suffered a fractured leg and underwent surgery Wednesday afternoon.

The girl was walking with a group of four other young children and a caregiver Wednesday. They were apparently playing hide and seek around the gravestones when one fell on the child.

Vincent said the group was part of a local day care program, but didn't specify which.

Vincent cited the cemetery's narrow roads as an issue Wednesday, stating it was difficult to get a firetruck close to the scene.

He estimated responding firefighters were forced to park a couple hundred yards away from the scene.

Copyright 2012 - Foster's Daily Democrat, Dover, N.H.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service