Nine-year-old boy drowns in drainpipe in Katherine — ABC News Australia
In the town of Katherine in Australia’s Northern Territory, a nine-year-old boy drowned after entering a drainpipe in the Katherine Low Level area. This was reported by ABC News Australia, citing Northern Territory Police.
Search continued overnight
At around 5:15 p.m., authorities received a report that the boy had entered a drainpipe and had not resurfaced. Police arrived at the scene and deployed divers in the search.
Divers found the child at 1:45 a.m. Northern Territory Police Commander Neil Hayes said the boy’s family was at the scene and was receiving support. He said support was also being provided to staff who attended the scene.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Report to be prepared for the coroner
According to Neil Hayes, police will prepare a report on the child’s death for the coroner. The Northern Territory has long run an information campaign warning children against playing in pipes and drainage systems, particularly during the rainy season.
In 2014, an eight-year-old boy drowned while playing in a drainage system in Palmerston, a satellite city of Darwin. A coronial investigation at the time recommended regular inspections of drainage facilities.
