Baby No 59: Chinese “pipe baby” released from hospital

The newborn baby boy rescued from a toilet pipe in China has been released from hospital, officials say.

The baby had been in hospital in Jinhua city, Zhejiang province, since being cut free from the pipe on Saturday.

His 22-year-old mother, who has not been named, said the baby slipped into the toilet and went down the pipe by accident as she gave birth.

Reports suggested the baby left with a relative, but it remains unclear who.

An official from the Pujiang county propaganda office, which is in Jinhua, said the baby had been released from hospital, but did not identify who took him home.

Some local reports suggest the baby’s father has made himself known but others suggested other relatives had become involved.

Meanwhile state media reports that while the incident, which took place on Saturday, is being considered an accident, investigations are ongoing.

According to local reports, the mother alerted her landlord after the baby fell into the pipe, but did not admit the baby was hers until later.

An official told the Associated Press news agency it was because she was frightened.

China’s Zhezhong News reported that she told police she could not afford to have an abortion. She was unmarried, did not think she could afford to look after the baby, and kept her pregnancy secret, reports say.

The infant has been referred to as Baby No 59 – after the number of his hospital incubator. He suffered minor abrasions on his head and limbs after being confined in the 10 cm (4 inch) pipe.