Quick fire department action and medical care were crucial. The baby is doing well and has been released from hospital. Police is investigating the affair.

Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Chinese baby boy rescued on Sunday from a sewage pipe in a public lavatory has been released from hospital in Jinhua City (Zhejiang province). Referred to as 'Baby 59' by medical staff, he was handed over to his maternal grandparents.

The 22-year-old mother told the authorities that the baby fell into the pipe during childbirth. After initially accusing her of attempted murder, police in Pujang County accepted her claim.

"This was an accident," an official with the local propaganda department told the BBC. "The baby was taken by his maternal grandparents."

Although rescue efforts took more than an hour to remove the child from the pipes, the victim showed only a few superficial wounds to the face and limbs and is in a good health.

The unmarried mother kept her pregnancy secret but now will take care of the child along with their parents.

The presumptive father said instead he wants to take a paternity test.

The story has attracted strong public attention. Former Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu reportedly told Romanian channel ProTV that he wanted to adopt the baby.

Many messages of solidarity were also posted on Twitter by Chinese users.

 

• china
• baby
• 59
• pipes
• rescue
• unmarried
• mother