In the early hours of this morning, paramedics from the Department of Health’s Emergency Medical Services rescued a baby from the bottom of a 3m deep pit toilet in the Sdakeni area, Msinga.

The paramedics were called to the scene just after 3 am this morning by the baby’s uncle, who had gone to the EMRS base to call the paramedics, who immediately rushed to the scene.

When the paramedics arrived on scene they could hear the baby moving and crying inside the pit toilet. “They used all that they had with them at the time – a crow bar and large rocks to break the concrete base of the toilet open, ” said spokesman, Robert McKenzie.

“They rescued the baby from the pit, she was very cold and soiled. They administered oxygen to the baby and claimed her umbilical cord before cleaning and warming her.
The paramedics transported the baby to hospital. She is reported to be recovering well.