'Jesus was with her,' says mother of student who fell in drain pipe

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A 13-year-old student was rescued after being stuck in a drain pipe at Ridge Road Middle School in north Charlotte, according to the assistant principal.

"I still don't know why the hole was there," the 13-year old's mother, Lisa Rios, told Channel 9 on Saturday.

Chopper 9 flew over the scene where firefighters were on the track behind the school. Firefighters could be seen focused on a pipe on the ground next to the track.

Rios said she was at home when someone at Ridge Road Middle called and said her daughter Nallely had fallen into the hole.

The assistant principal said the student got stuck on the athletic field during field day.

"I didn't make it to the school cause when I started going they called and said they were on the way to the hospital taking her in the ambulance," Rios said.

Nallely suffered some bruises from her body but was released from the hospital.

Rios said her daughter is a student with special needs and has trouble articulating at times, but Nallely did have one thing to say about the scary incident.

"She said Jesus was with her in the hole and angels were with her," Rios said.

Huntersville Fire Department officials said they assisted the Charlotte Fire Department in a confined-space rescue.

It's still unclear exactly how the student fell into the drain pipe. Channel 9 emailed the district asking if the drain pipe was covered and what caused the student to fall into it. District officials told Channel 9 they're checking.

Rios said the district hasn't answered those questions for her either.

"Why would the hole be there? Did they not know the hole would be there?" Rios asked. "I want them to make sure she's safe and others are safe when she's playing outside."

Below is the message sent to families at Ridge Road Middle School:

This is assistant principal Wright with an important message. This afternoon, a student got stuck in a drain pipe on the athletic field during field day. Fire and Medic responded immediately to help the student to safety. The student was alert with no apparent serious injuries and transported as a precautionary measure.

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