An 8-year-old boy who went missing for over a week has been found alive in the sewer system near his home in northwestern Germany, police said.
The boy, identified as Joe, went missing on June 17, prompting a huge search operation. But after a tip from a member of the public who heard sounds from the street, the police in Oldenburg found him under a manhole cover eight days after he disappeared.
After examining all traces and clues, the officers now assume Joe crawled through the rainwater sewer system on the day of his disappearance and lost his orientation after several meters, police said in a statement released Tuesday.
The police have ruled out third-party negligence at this point in time. The boy, despite being completely undressed, didn't have any serious injuries, but was severely hypothermic and dehydrated, police said.