A 5-year-old boy fell into an 8ft manhole because the cover was not properly secured.

A young boy, just five years old, was playing outside his home in Ilchester, Somerset on a pleasant Sunday afternoon. He was enjoying the sunshine and the company of his seven-year-old friend when suddenly, he fell down an 8ft manhole that was left open and unsecured. Fortunately, the boy landed on a ledge inside the sewer and was able to escape with only minor injuries such as bruises and scrapes. However, his mother, Natalie Walton, shared that he has been having nightmares since the incident.

According to Natalie, her son was playing on a patch of grass near their terraced house when the accident occurred. It is believed that the manhole cover was moved by his friend, who was able to do so because it was not properly bolted down. Luckily, a neighbor from across the street witnessed the incident and quickly pulled the child out of the drain. Natalie, a youth worker, expressed how terrifying the experience was for her and her family.

The manhole, which was 8ft deep, posed a significant risk to the child as he cannot swim. If the weather had been different, the drain would have been full and the outcome could have been much worse. Natalie immediately reported the faulty cover to Wessex Water, who arrived at their home within an hour to assess the situation. The workers then left and returned the next day to repair the cover.

However, Natalie feels that the incident has not been taken seriously enough by the authorities. She believes that if the outcome had been fatal, more serious measures would have been taken. She also expressed concern for other children in the area who could potentially be in danger if the issue is not addressed. A spokesperson for Wessex Water apologized for the distressing incident and assured that they took immediate action to ensure the safety of the area.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time such an incident has occurred. In 2022, CCTV footage captured the terrifying moment an 18-month-old boy fell into a manhole in Ashford, Kent due to a loose cover. The child, Theo, suffered mild concussion and was covered in sewage, but thankfully he was otherwise unharmed. These accidents serve as a reminder of the importance of taking necessary precautions to prevent such incidents from happening again in the future.

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