South Africa: Rescue operation for boy, 5, trapped in mineshaft in Jerusalem

South Africa’s News24 has been following the story of a 5-year-old boy who is said to have been trapped in an abandoned mineshaft since Saturday.

The shaft is located in Boksburg, a city in the East Rand of South Africa’s Gauteng Province.

It is unclear how residents of the area known as the Jerusalem community managed to know the boy was in there and why it took this long to call in rescue workers.

People gathered around the shaft despite police barricades as a tractor cleared the area to allow a crane access to the scene.

The boy is still in the mineshaft but what remains is to know whether he is still alive.

Search Suspended till Tuesday

Mines Rescue operation for trapped 5-year-old in Jerusalem, Boksburg has been suspended till Tuesday. News24

— Iavan Pijoos (Iavan13) February 27, 2017

Rescue Underway

Mines Rescue use a remote control camera to search for the trapped 5-year-old in Jerusalem, Boksburg. News24 pic.twitter.com/zupPr2ZZI2

— Iavan Pijoos (Iavan13) February 27, 2017

A Mines Rescuer about to enter the shaft in search of the 5-year-old at Jerusalem, Boksburg. News24 pic.twitter.com/EaiWf1xFHI

— Iavan Pijoos (Iavan13) February 27, 2017

Community members from the informal settlement in Jerusalem, Boksburg, have not left the area where the 5-year-old boy is trapped. News24 pic.twitter.com/RpClR1oMZ0

— Iavan Pijoos (Iavan13) February 27, 2017

Mines Rescue team is about to sent down a remote control camera to scout the ground of the shaft where the 5-year-old is trapped. News24 pic.twitter.com/j7eq70fypb

— Iavan Pijoos (Iavan13) February 27, 2017

The rescue operation for the trapped 5-year-old in Jerusalem, Boksburg is currently underway. News24 pic.twitter.com/57sW9KXT9y

— Iavan Pijoos (Iavan13) February 27, 2017

Rescue workers getting ready to search for the trapped 5-year-old in Jerusalem, Boksburg. News24 pic.twitter.com/y0K3QoU6VY

— Iavan Pijoos (Iavan13) February 27, 2017

It has not been confirmed yet whether the boy is alive News24

— Nae* (Naewizzle) February 27, 2017

The Jerusalem community gathered around the empty mine hole where the boy is believed to have fell on Sat News24 pic.twitter.com/qSBFqOxpaI

— Nae* (Naewizzle) February 27, 2017

Community members have flocked to the disused mineshaft in Boksburg where a 5-year-old is trapped. News24 pic.twitter.com/fNjuhJ8mw0

— Iavan Pijoos (Iavan13) February 27, 2017

A rescue mission is underway in Jerusalem, Boksburg to retrieve the body of a 5-year-old boy who fell in an empty mine shaft on Sat News24 pic.twitter.com/WKHdmNYjZ4

— Nae* (Naewizzle) February 27, 2017

A crane has arrived to try and recover the body of a 5-year-old boy. News24 pic.twitter.com/yqcYd78j1u

— Nae* (Naewizzle) February 27, 2017

Photo Credit: Iavan Pijoos of News24