WATERFORD, Conn. (WTNH) – A 14-month old baby was taken to the hospital with minor injuries after falling down a vent. 

The incident happened in Waterford at around 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

Waterford fire officials said the baby fell about 12 feet, from the second-floor hallway through the wall of the first floor and into the basement, where he got stuck in a crawlspace.

“I hear screaming, so I ran in and at first I did not see him, I didn’t think to look down,” said mother Kristie Mendes. “So I looked in his room, and then I looked down and I was like, my oh my gosh oh my gosh, he’s in the vent! He’s in the vent! Oh my god, how do I get him out?”

The baby’s grandmother, Naomi Irizarry, ran from next door to help out.

“He was screaming and crying, yelling save me save me,” she said.

Firefighters were able to access the crawl space below the home and disassembled the home’s ventilation duct in order to get the baby, Elijah Mendes, out. 

Officials said Elijah was extricated within 20 minutes of firefighters’ arrival. 

 Three of them entered the basement crawlspace and began cutting and unscrewing the ductwork with power tools, which was difficult because of the position of little Elijah.

“His hands were over his head, and he was in a position where he couldn’t get them back down, and he was sandwiched from his front and back side,” said firefighter Tom Martin.

Elijah appeared to have very minor injuries, including abrasions on the stomach and legs, officials said.

He was treated by Waterford EMS and L&M paramedic and transported to Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

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