A boy missing for more than a week has been found in the sewers.
Eight-year-old Joe, who lives in the city of Oldenburg, northwest Germany, disappeared on June 17 from his front garden, sparking an intense police manhunt.
A passerby heard whimpers coming from the manhole cover in the early hours and called emergency services.
Rescuers rushed to the scene about 200 meters from his home and found Joe at the bottom of the sewer.
A firefighter entered the sewer to get him out.
The child was taken to the hospital with hypothermia, but no major injuries.
His father told reporters he was “doing well” with the circumstances.
Police shared the news that Joe had been found, tweeting: “Alive eight year old Joe!”
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Officers are investigating how the child got into the sewer and whether he intentionally closed the door.
Police spokesman Stephan Klatte said he was unable to lift the heavy manhole cover by himself.
He added: ‘It is conceivable that it climbed into the tunnel maze at another point in the tributary system and went through the pipes.
The entire sewer system is currently being inspected by cameras.
