A child fell into an 8ft deep sewer after the manhole cover outside his family home was left loose.

Natalie Walton, 33, said her five-year-old son was lucky to survive and is now having nightmares after developing a phobia of drains.

The drain was in the middle of a stretch of grass outside the family's terraced house in Ilchester, Somerset, where children regularly play.

Natalie, who is a youth worker, said her child was fortunate to come away from the accident with minor bruising and small grazes after toppling in on 23 June.

She said: "It was terrifying.

"We are very fortunate that he managed to land on a ledge and that it happened when the weather has been good or the drain would have been full."

The boy has been having nightmares since the incident (image via SWNS)

She added: "He has nightmares, bless him, and he won't walk on drain covers."

advertisement

The five-year-old is said to have fallen in the drain after his seven-year-old friend was able to move the manhole cover, which was not bolted down.

A neighbour from across the road saw the accident and pulled the child from the drain.

The child was then taken to a minor injury unit in Glastonbury to be checked over.

Natalie said her son can't swim, so a full drain would have posed a high risk.

Natalie reported the faulty lid on 24 June and Wessex Water arrived at the property within an hour.

Wessex Water says the cover has now been repaired (image via SWNS)

After assessing the damage to the defective drain cover, the workers left and returned the next morning to conduct repairs.

But Natalie has voiced concern over the close shave and the potential for a similar accident to have fatal consequences in the future.

She said: "Because it wasn't fatal, I am not being taken seriously.

"There has been no accountability, it shouldn't have happened in the first place.

"What are they waiting for, another child to be injured?"

Natalie lives with her husband, Shane Walton, 39, who is a soldier, and their three sons.

A Wessex Water spokesperson said: "This must have been distressing for the child involved and we're sorry to hear he was hurt – we wish him a speedy recovery.

"It's unclear how the cover was damaged, but within an hour of it being reported we were there to investigate and make sure the area was safe.

"The cover was then repaired the next day to prevent it happening again."