Samuel Jones, 4, Amber Alert N.M. deceased

[Lady Cop]

Officials watch as work crews dig near a narrow, 30-foot-deep hole in Carlsbad, N.M., Sunday, March 4, 2012, in an effort to recover the body of a 4-year-old boy two days after he fell into the hole. Workers pulled the body of 4-year-old Samuel Jones from the hole located in a neighbor's yard early Monday, local authorities said.




Heavy equipment stands near a narrow, 30-foot-deep hole in Carlsbad, N.M., Sunday, March 4, 2012, during an effort to recover the body of a 4-year-old boy two days after he fell into the hole. Workers pulled the body of 4-year-old Samuel Jones from the hole located in a neighbor's yard early Monday, local authorities said



This blue tarp was put over the hole in the yard where a trench expert was called in to dig to the body of a child discovered in the hole at around 7 a.m. Sunday.



The mine rescue team from Mosaic Potash arrives to help in the recovery of the body of 4-year-old Samuel Jones from a 30-foot deep hole in a yard near his home. Eddy County law enforcement was joined by construction, mining, drilling and rescue personnel


Current-Argus
CARLSBAD — With a cup of coffee in his hand, Eddy County Fire Coordinator Robert Brader sat back in his chair next to the county's Emergency Preparedness mobile command vehicle Monday morning. His gaze went to the huge mounds of dirt that been dug to free the body of a little boy who fell into a deep hole on Saturday.
It had been a grueling night and early morning as highly experienced people worked together to bring 4-year-old Samuel Jones' body to the surface from 29 feet below the ground. Around 7 a.m., the youngster's lifeless body had been retrieved from the deep hole, and Brader was there.

"It was pretty emotional," said Brader, fatigued from a lack of sleep. He took a moment to compose himself before continuing the interview. "I have been a paramedic for years and have been at accidents involving children. But this was different."

Because no one in Carlsbad or Eddy County had done this type of rescue before, Brader said, specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 1 was brought in to help. Carlsbad physician Kim Lark and her search and rescue dogs are part of the task force.

Brader said that as soon as the call came in that the child was missing, the mobile command vehicle was brought in to provide logistic support along with generators and heaters.

"Throughout the night people were searching for the little boy. When the sun came up, someone told us there was a hole in the ground that he may have fallen into."

That's when Brader and Scott Maxwell from the Carlsbad Fire Department devised a webcam to put down into the hole, and their worst fears were realized.

Brader said Carlsbad Police and Fire Departments, the county emergency preparedness office, the mine rescue teams, specialists and heavy equipment operators who volunteered their time and equipment all worked in harmony under difficult and trying conditions.

He said as word spread in the community about the lost child, and the subsequent discovery of his body in the hole, the public turned out in great numbers.

"At times it was overwhelming," Brader said.