Newborn Infant Baby Rescued From Storm Drain in Durban, South Africa

DURBAN – Rescue workers in South Africa have successfully rescued a newborn baby from a storm drain in a four-hour operation that ended with hurrahs and cheers from onlookers.

Rescue Care Paramedics, one of the groups that helped to extricate the infant girl in Durban, South Africa says it is unclear why the baby was “dumped” and that police are investigating.

The group says emergency responders went to the scene on Monday after residents heard a baby crying from deep inside the concrete storm drain. It says the area was dug up and a chisel and hammer were used to break into the drain.

In a complex three-hour operation, the rescue team dug a two-metre trench and shored up walls before cutting into the storm water pipe.

Workers were then able to pull the baby out of the pipe and bring her to the surface, to cheers from the crowds which had gathered nearby.

She was quickly treated by paramedics before being flown by helicopter to Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital.

According to Rescue Care operations officer Garrith Jamieson, 36, who was at the scene, the baby had no injuries but did have hypothermia.

“The body temperature was cold but the baby is fine,” he told the Press Association. “The baby has now been transferred to a step down hospital.”

A doctor who tended to the baby at the Albert Luthuli Hospital called her a miracle.

The Associated Press