An 8-year-old child who had been missing for more than a week was found alive in a sewage system near his house, according to police in northwest Germany.
Joe, the missing child, was reported missing on June 17. This resulted in a major search operation and anxious family members.
Police in Oldenburg recovered him behind a manhole cover eight days after he went missing, thanks to a tip from a civilian who heard noises emanating from the ground.
He was successfully rescued.
After analyzing all the evidence and clues, the cops now believe that Joe went down a drain into the rainwater sewer system on the day he vanished and lost his bearings after a few meters, police said.
According to the first inquiry, third-party negligence has been ruled out at this time.
Many police agencies and fire departments from throughout the nation, as well as numerous private individuals, participated in the hunt for Joe.
It seemed to be self-inflicted.
The youngster was discovered completely naked, but according to police, he had no severe injuries, simply an acute cold and dehydration.
He lost his sense of direction and was unable to escape.
Police say that after he crawled down the line for 23 meters, he followed the sewage system through a pipe that was only 23.6 inches (60 centimeters) in diameter (75 feet). Many of his clothes were found in this pipe.
That must have been an awful eight days for him.
The boy navigated sewer tunnels and junctions to reach the location where he was discovered behind the manhole cover.
Authorities once began a murder inquiry after receiving a tip that the youngster was seen with an unidentified person, but the information was false.
Authorities think that no criminal activity occurred.
Joe is currently getting treatment and care in the hospital; however, he has not yet been able to completely convey his side of the story to the police.
But, according to the first police report, Joe has a learning disability.
Throughout the inquiry, it was suggested that he may stay hidden if he saw the search as a game.
Fortunately, everything turned out okay.
They are very delighted, said police spokesperson Stephan Klatte. It is just good fortune. The potential existed that we might not discover the kid there. If he had not made a sound or if these sounds had not been noticed, it is possible that they would not have discovered him at all.
The president of the Oldenburg Police Department, Johann Kühme, said that he was astonished by the level of dedication shown during the last several days. He desired to thank all the main and volunteer forces and individuals who worked tirelessly and with compassion until late at night to locate the missing youngster.
Joe’s dad also said a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped find his son.
Check out the following video to learn more about Joe’s life.
