Girl rescued after getting stuck in storm drain

A teenage girl had to be rescued by firefighters after getting stuck down a storm drain while trying to retrieve her mobile phone.

The girl, named locally as Ella Birchenough, squeezed down the hole trying to fetch her phone in Eaves Road, Dover in Kent.

The 16-year-old became stuck fast in front of a group of onlookers, including her mother, according to witness Tim Richards.

Mobile phone shop employee Mr Richards, 22, was driving home with his mother when he saw Ella up to her waist in the drain, and they pulled over.

He said:

Mr Richards said Ella at one point managed to inch herself out - but promptly went back in before becoming "completely stuck".

Ella's efforts proved to be in vain - because the phone is broken. She revealed the first thing she did when she emerged was to dash home for a bath.

She told KentOnline:

A Kent Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said one fire engine was sent to deal with the incident at around 7.15pm yesterday and that the girl was uninjured.