Miraculous Escape: Man Cheats Death as 2,000-Pound Granite Slab Smashes into Alton Home

In a heart-stopping incident that defies belief, a man in Alton, New Hampshire, miraculously escaped death when a colossal 2,000-pound granite slab, dislodged by a well-drilling operation, became a deadly projectile, hurtling nearly 100 feet before smashing into his home. The scene, which unfolded on Old Wolfeboro Road on a recent Monday afternoon, left residents stunned and authorities emphasizing the sheer luck involved in averting a tragedy.

The drama began as a contractor worked diligently on a new well on the property.

What should have been a routine excavation quickly turned into a terrifying ordeal when the drilling equipment struck a massive piece of granite. The impact was so powerful that it ripped the enormous stone from its resting place, transforming it into a destructive missile.

Eyewitnesses, if any, would have seen the massive rock soar through the air.

The granite slab, estimated by Alton Fire Chief Chris Berg to weigh between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds, covered a staggering distance of almost 100 feet. Its trajectory took it straight towards a homeowner who was standing just 20 feet from his house. In what can only be described as a fraction of a second, the man's life hung precariously in the balance.

By some incredible twist of fate, the man was spared.

The granite behemoth missed him by mere inches, instead plowing directly into his home. The impact was devastating, causing "significant structural damage" to the residence. Photos from the scene would likely show a gaping hole and shattered debris, a testament to the immense force of the stone's collision.

Alton Fire Department personnel, including Chief Berg, responded to the chaotic scene.

Chief Berg didn't mince words, stating unequivocally that the man involved was "very lucky" to have walked away from such a perilous situation. It's a stark reminder of the unpredictable dangers that can arise even during seemingly routine construction work.

This harrowing near-miss serves as a powerful testament to the thin line between life and death and the incredible fortune of one individual.

While the investigation into the exact circumstances of the incident continues, the primary emotion remains one of profound relief that what could have been a fatal accident resulted only in property damage, and a story of a truly miraculous escape.