Grace April was found in a storm drain (Picture: Jamie Pyatt News Ltd)

A newborn baby has miraculously survived after being abandoned in a storm drain thanks to a sausage dog that alerted his owner.

Charmaine Keevy was shocked when she found the child lying naked in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, after her pet Georgie started barking at the location on April 3.

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At first the 63-year-old thought it was a cat but after getting closer she realised it was a baby girl crying.

Ms Keevy then frantically flagged down Cornie Viljoen’s passing car and together they managed to open the drain’s concrete cover with a steel bar.


Mr Viljoen, 60, was the one who entered the drain, which is six feet deep, to retrieve the baby.



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The girl was taken to hospital (Picture: Jamie Pyatt News Ltd)

Grace April is recovering in hospital (Picture: Jamie Pyatt News Ltd)

He was shocked to find a colony of red ants surrounding the youngster.

‘The baby was lucky the red ants were higher up in the drain and not down at the bottom where she was,’ Mr Viljoen said.

‘I just do not know why anyone could do this to a newborn baby, but I was just so glad that we were able to help her and save her life.

‘I told Charmaine to call the emergency services right away.

The baby, who still had her umbilical cord attached, was taken to hospital where doctors found she was suffering from hypothermia and respiratory issues.

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Charmaine Keevy and Georgie the sausage dog (Picture: Jamie Pyatt News Ltd)

The baby has since been named Grace April by hospital staff, with Ms Keevy adding: ‘I usually take a different route on my dog walk but for some reason went another way.

‘I cannot help but feel that there is some sort of a plan and a purpose for that little girls’ life – it is a miracle without a doubt.’

Police are currently looking for the child’s mother.

Force spokeswoman Colonel Priscilla Naidu said: ‘There is a possibility that the person who did this may have come from outside the area and placed the child there.

‘We are appealing for witnesses and the mother of this baby to come forward.’

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