WATERVILLE, Wash. (AP) — An 83-year-old woman fell into a backyard well in rural north-central Washington, spending about 20 minutes in cold water before she was rescued.

Authorities were called to a Waterville home at 8:53 a.m. Monday. They found Ernestine Eggers close to unconsciousness in water at the bottom of the approximately 30-foot well. Douglas County Sheriff's Sgt. Tom Couey says Eggers was found sitting in about one to two feet of cold water when rescuers arrived.

The woman stumbled into the open well after the lid was left off.

Firefighters helped pull Eggers from the well and she was transported to a nearby hospital. Her condition wasn't immediately known. Waterville is about 25 miles northeast of Wenatchee.

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Information from The Wenatchee World: http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/