Friday, May 09, 2008

Local Surfer Rescues Decendant of City's Founder From Well

San Clemente, CA (UPI) -- Local surfer Henry Ford rescued a two-year-old girl who spent 27 hours trapped in a deep well. The child, Erin Hanson Carlos Amezcua, great-great-great-great-granddaughter of the City's founder, Ole Hanson (1874-1940), was playing outside her house when she fell more than 40 feet down a man-made well in San Clemente, California.

Henry Ford, a retired lifeguard, excavated earth parallel to the well in order to tunnel through to the child, who had been heard crying earlier in the day. Erin's mother was kept away from the well because of fears that she would become emotional and upset the child, but Ford was constantly talking to Erin to keep her conscious, authorities said.

Hundreds of locals had gathered to watch the rescue operation, with many of them performing prayers for the girl's safety and brewing coffee for Ford, who refused to rest or sleep during the 27 hours ordeal. Local TV showed live pictures of crowds celebrating at the scene, and later at a spontaneous parade on Pico Avenue.

Oxygen was pumped to the young girl during the rescue operation and Henry Ford sent milk and Ho-hos, Erin's favorite treat, down to the child. The rescue effort had to proceed slowly amid fears that the excavation work could cause the well to collapse.

Children in Orange County frequently fall down wells that have been left carelessly uncovered. Earlier this year, a young boy was rescued from a well in nearby San Juan Capistrano.

A picture of Henry Ford surfing a number of years ago is included with this report. Mr. Ford is notoriously shy, and like the classic hero, he doesn't hang around the rescue scene looking for gratitude. Regrettably, calls to his phone were not returned in time to include his thoughts on this rescue or to provide a recent photo.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mr.Carton, I am from Manhattan Beach CA. I attended Mira Costa High School the same tme as Henry Ford, we graduated 1949 cum laude. Mickey Mongoose was Henry's protege at LA County LA County Lifeguard Service. Henry was always on alert. Because of his safety record bathers flocked to his tower. We love you Henry.

Anonymous said...

My hero.

Anonymous said...

Mr.Cartoon, that image of Ford-O is of a chap from San Onofre named 'Finger Mill' Jim.

Bill W. said...

isn't it funny how all you henry haters have gone to sanodaze? why don't you start your own blog about hate? hate is not a family value and has no place in our sano ohana. Feel good vibrations and aloha. life is good and short too. it's way too short to hate especially a real hometown hero, you people better just be glad hank adopted san clemente, we need mor like him. and a word to anonymous...................I know who you are

Bill W. said...

who is the dumb ass who keeps correcting my engrish? I will take special pleasure in finding you out and having my way with you.!.........!!! now i am self concious about what i write. I am going to sick archy on you..

Anonymous said...

"...Anonymous, I know who you are...."

Now, this is real good news, Shotz. There's 29 Anon' here. Which one do you know.

#23

Huevos Rancheros said...

Hmmmm.... I was led to believe Ford-O was right foot foward. What gives?

Bill W. said...

..........................................................................................................................................................how do you like me now?..................................................................................................

Bill W. said...

you can punctuate my old wrinkly vagina.

Anonymous said...

You don’t get it. It’s a pseudonym. “Henry Ford" is a pseudonym of Hobie Alter because they call him "the Henry Ford of surfboard building." He even made a surfboard called the Henry Ford model, but it’s an inside joke. There is no Henry Ford associated with surfing. Henry Ford made cars. Look it up.

The real credit goes to Hobie Alter.

Plus, the picture is of a guy named "Bunny" that surfed SanO in the late 1950s and early 1960s. I don't know his last name. No one ever did. He moved up to Mammoth to ski the winters and run a horse stable in the summers.

Anonymous said...

Anon', who's this wheel (Shotzy) squeaking the loudest. I think he wants the oil. Ford-O was from the 50's. Get over hpm, he's had his 15 minutes in the sun. Get real, dude.

Huevos Rancheros said...

Anon' #4, are you talking about Doc Ball?

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