An eight-year-old boy, Onyeka Umeh, narrowly escaped death as he was rescued from drowning by the Lagos State Fire Service in Ejigbo, Lagos.
Umeh was on the verge of drowning in the open water at the far end of Pastor Ojediran Street, behind Oba’s Palace, until the fire department intervened.
At 3:20 p.m., the Ejigbo Fire Station received an emergency call, leading the agency’s rescue squad to quickly organise and remove the youngster from the canal. The youngster was handed over to the Ejigbo Division of the Police after the rescue operation, and he was reunited with his family.
According to reports, Umeh’s friend, who collects pet bottles from the area, spotted him drowning and raised the alarm, alerting the fire service to the situation and saving his friend’s life.
The Lagos State Fire Service is advising parents and guardians to keep a close watch on their children and limit their exposure to hazardous areas.