Windhoek — A resident of Sky Location in Oshakati rescued a baby girl that was dumped into a toilet just after her birth on Tuesday afternoon.

The 21-year-old mother of the baby has been arrested and is under Police guard in the Oshakati State Hospital with her baby.

She is facing a charge of attempted murder. Neighbours heard a baby crying on Tuesday and when they investigated they found the newborn inside the pit latrine. They called the Police, who were apparently reluctant to climb into the cesspit to rescue the baby. Silvanus Nghinongelwa (32) of Sky Location then jumped into the pit and lifted the baby from the sewage.

The infant was admitted to hospital and was reunited with her mother, who is breastfeeding her there, a Police spokesman said.