Human Interest 2-Year-Old Boy Saved by Mother After He Falls 7 Feet Into Manhole at N.J. Playground After falling into the manhole, the toddler sat in two feet of water up to his chin and was almost pulled down the sewage tunnel By Joelle Goldstein Joelle Goldstein Instagram Twitter Joelle Goldstein is the Staff Editor of TV for PEOPLE Digital. She has been with the brand for five years, beginning her time as a digital news writer, where she covered everything from entertainment news to crime stories and royal tours. Since then, she has worked as a writer-reporter on the Human Interest team and an associate editor on the TV team. In her current role, Joelle helps oversee all things TV, and enjoys being able to say she has to watch The Kardashians, America's Got Talent, Love Is Blind and Dancing with the Stars for her "work" responsibilities. Prior to joining PEOPLE, Joelle was employed at The Hollywood Reporter, where she was co-nominated at the 2019 GLAAD Media Awards for Outstanding Magazine Article for feature cover story. She graduated from Ithaca College with a Bachelor's degree in Television-Radio (and an appearance in the NCAA Women's Volleyball Final Four!) People Editorial Guidelines Published on September 23, 2021 03:00 PM Share Tweet Pin Email A manhole in a park. Photo: Getty A mother jumped into action when her 2-year-old boy fell into a manhole at a playground in New Jersey. The toddler and his mom, whose identities have not been released, were enjoying Kawameeh Park in Union on Thursday when the scary incident unfolded, Chief Michael Scanio with the Union Fire Department (UFD) confirms to PEOPLE. Around 10:45 a.m., the boy fell approximately seven feet down into an open manhole while playing with his mother, Scanio says. The manhole had two feet of sewage water at the bottom, which was up to the boy's chin, and soon began to pull him down the tunnel to a small area, Scanio says. Thinking quickly, the mother — who was on the phone with 911 — jumped into the hole and grabbed her son before managing to pull them both out, according to Scanio. Pregnant Minnesota Mom Saves Little Boy from Drowning as She Was Teaching Her Own Son How to Float By the time the UFD arrived, the child and his mother were already out of the manhole. Neither had any apparent physical injuries, but Scanio notes that the boy may have ingested some sewer water. The pair were evaluated by Union EMS before being taken to a nearby hospital as a precaution. Following the incident, other members of the UFD said they were impressed by the mom's heroic actions. "I think when your child is in a situation like that, you'll do anything possible to save them," Anthony Schmidtberg with the UFD said, according to WABC. "So, it was more amazing that she was able to get them both out because there is no access ladder out there. She must've gripped onto the ledge and jumped out of there." Schmidtberg added: "The mother was... soaked, crying, very upset, but nothing physically that was wrong with them, and she treated them on scene." RELATED VIDEO: Boy Accidentally Gets Stuck on Airport Conveyor Belt System At this time, it is unclear why the manhole was not covered. Scanio says it is believed the cover may have blown off during Hurricane Ida, which came through on Sept. 1. "You just have to be careful," Schmidtberg told WABC. "Watch where you step, check, especially if there is a storm. You should never go when you cannot see it... these things do pop up, and you can fall and you're not going to be able to get back out." Union County Police, Union County Department of Public Works (DPW) and Union DPW all arrived at the scene after the incident and began checking all the manholes in the park, according to Scanio. He says DPW will be checking other locations within Union Township that may have been affected and county police will be checking the remainder of the parks in the county.