Melbourne boy miraculously escapes after getting sucked into stormwater drain

An 11-year-old boy was washed about 10m under the road before managing to grab onto a metal grate on the other side. Photo / Victoria Police

A young boy was miraculously rescued after he was trapped in an overflowing stormwater drain, prompting emergency services to issue dire warnings about going into floodwaters.

The 11-year-old boy was riding his bike with a friend when he was sucked underwater after accidentally riding across a submerged drain at Altona Meadows in Melbourne.

He was washed about 10m under the road before managing to grab onto a metal grate on the other side.

The boy only had time to take hold of the grate because his bike helmet caught on the structure in a lucky break.

The boy was left battling the powerful current, barely managing to keep his head above the water.

An off-duty SES member and a passerby rushed to his aid, with police from Williamstown arriving soon after.

The SES member removed bolts from the drain’s grate to get to the boy, who was then fully submerged in the swiftly moving water.

He was pushed to the underside until a police officer forced the grate open and pulled him to safety.

The boy said “I love you all”, to his rescuers after he was safe.

But he still asked about his missing shoes.

“I was trying to get up but I couldn’t because the current was too strong,” he told the ABC.

“When it took me down, I was like: ‘I’m not ready to go, I don’t want to go to heaven, and that’s why I tried to get out’,” he said.

Paramedics treated the boy at the scene and he was taken to hospital for monitoring.

His friend was also washed away from his bike, but managed to stop himself from getting sucked into the water.

First Constable Peter Ivory, who pulled the boy to safety, said it was an “incredibly dynamic” situation.

“When we arrived the boy was fully submerged and he was literally clinging to the grate by his fingernails so he wasn’t sucked underground.

“The force of the water was extraordinary.

“I’m so glad we could play our part in bringing the incident to a good resolution.”

Ivory said he “could not speak more highly” of everyone involved, especially the passerby.

“They are truly the heroes of this story.”

Sergeant Kristy Briffa from Williamstown Police said, “The actions of everyone involved in this rescue were truly amazing.

“There is no doubt their quick thinking in the direst of circumstances truly saved a life.

“We are so delighted this story has a happy ending.”

Briffa cautioned about residents going into flood waters, saying the accident “just goes to show how treacherous and powerful flood waters can be”.