Arabic version: إنقاذ مراهق من شبكة تصريف مياه الأمطار في بريزبن

According to ABC News, firefighters rescued a teenager from a network of stormwater drains beneath Brisbane on Sunday afternoon after reports he was caught in the underground waterway system near Kangaroo Point.

Emergency services received the reports at about 2pm. Five firefighting crews took about half an hour to locate the boy, who was with his brother. The other boy did not require rescue.

Queensland Fire Department station officer Clint Pilon said the teenager was found about 20 metres from the entrance to a stormwater drain. Crews brought him to safety using an inflatable rescue boat in what Mr Pilon described as a “pretty smooth” rescue.

The teenager was uninjured and did not need to be taken to hospital. Mr Pilon described the operation as a positive outcome, while warning that playing in stormwater drains was never a good idea, particularly after rain.

He said the drains extend throughout the city and form “a little maze”, with exits along the river. The stormwater-drain network is connected to the Brisbane River.