"Here", the best well story I've heard was told to me by a beekeeper. One of his helpers was moving a hive by hand to place in a field for rent.  They went through the rotted top of the well WHILE CARRYING A HIVE OF BEES.  Not quite sure how long they had to tread water while being stung but I almost suffocated laughing when I was told about it.  I used to keep bees and have been stung in a variety of creative ways and places so I wasn't just being nasty.  Mostly commiserating but glad it wasn't me if you know what I mean.

Having someone's kid drown in an open well is just a complete tragedy though.  There are lots of rotten wellcovers around and some of them are accidents waiting to happen.  I put a big flat rock over one of our unused wells after hearing the bee story. I'd hate to know that $20 worth of new wood could've saved a neighbor's son or daughter.  Or my own.