Girls trapped in storm drain use Facebook to call for help . . . instead of phoning emergency services



Trapped: The girls used Facebook to alert people to their predicament



Two girls aged ten and 12 who were trapped in a storm drain used Facebook to get help instead of calling the emergency services.



The girls updated their status on their mobile phones to say they were trapped instead of dialing triple '0', the Australian emergency services number.



Firefighters eventually rescued the pair after being contacted by one of their male school friends.



The friend had been online and saw they were trapped.



The drama happened near Adelaide, Australia.



Firefighter Glenn Benham, who took part in the rescue, said: 'These girls were able to access Facebook on their mobile phones so they could have called the emergency services.



'It seems absolutely crazy but they updated their status rather than call us directly.



'We could have come to their rescue much faster than relying on someone else being online, then replying to them, then calling us.



'It is a worrying development. 'Young people should realize it's better to contact us directly.



'Luckily they are safe and well. It's awful to think what could have happened because of the delay.'

