Boy, 8, freed from chimney after 6 hours

WEST VALLEY, Utah, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- An 8-year-old Utah boy will have a heckuva story for his what-I-did-this summer school report after police say he got trapped in a chimney for 6 hours.

West Valley police Sgt. Robert Hamilton said the boy wandered off Friday when he was in the care of his older siblings and went to a home about 4 blocks away, where he had recently played with the resident couple's grandchild, The Salt Lake Tribune reported Tuesday.

Hamilton said the boy found the house locked and decided to try climbing down the chimney so he could get a drink from the home.

The boy climbed a tree to the roof, about 25 feet from the ground, and climbed about 30 feet down the chimney, nearly reaching the basement of the home, before he became stuck.

Hamilton said the boy was wedged for up to 6 hours before the homeowners arrived and summoned help about 8 p.m.

"He was surprisingly very calm on scene. His only worry was he was still thirsty when we got there," Hamilton said.

Firefighters cut an 8-foot by 5-foot hole in the wall to free the boy, Hamilton said.

"He didn't have a scratch on him," Hamilton said. "They took him to the hospital. He was in great condition."

The boy was returned to his family.