- The baby was lying on his side, with his
face half covered in the sewage water.
- The city's K9 Search and Rescue team
saved the baby in a heroic rescue
- If it had not been for the actions of the
rescue team, the baby might have not survived
A pregnant woman went into labor without
realizing it and her newborn ended in the dark depths of a long drop toilet in
Mafakathini on Saturday.
The grandmother of the newborn boy called
the city's K9 Search and Rescue team who heroically saved the life of the
newborn.
According to Sergeant Mthokozisi Ngobese,
Pietermaritzburg police spokesperson, said when the team arrived, one of the
members looked down into the pit and saw the baby, still alive, at the bottom.
Ngobese also said the baby was lying on his
side, with his face half covered in the sewage water.
To save the baby the team lowered one of
its members, Warrant Officer Ian Cowley, down into the long drop and he walked
through the raw dirt to get to the silent newborn.
After picking up the baby from the slight
pit, Cowley was lifted back up by his team members.
The baby was stabilised and immediately
taken through to the neonatal intensive care unit (Nicu) at Grey’s.
Ngobese said uMgungundlovu South cluster
commander Major General Phumelele Makoba congratulated the team on their quick
work, and said that if it had not been for the actions of the rescue team, the
baby might not have survived.
