Newborn baby rescued from storm drain in South Africa

A newborn baby girl was rescued from a stormwater drain in South Africa on Monday (Feb. 11) after being stuck for several hours.

Emergency services were called after neighbours heard the infant’s cries coming from the drain and rescuers spent three hours attempting to reach the girl before pulling her out safely.

The baby was tended to by paramedics at the scene while the huge crowds that had gathered to witness the rescue, cheered on.

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She was subsequently airlifted to Albert Luthuli Central Hospital to be treated and then taken to another unnamed facility.

She escaped with only a mild case of hypothermia and “a few minor abrasions,” according to local journalist Bernadette Wilks.

Wilks added that it wasn’t known at this point how the little girl got stuck in the drain, but that an attempted murder case had been opened and the parents had not been located.

The local community came together to help the rescue effort by donating kitchen cupboard doors to reinforce the dig site so earth and mud wouldn’t collapse on the little girl, said Wilks.