A child whose leg was trapped in a broken steel drainage grating while walking home from school miraculously survived the ordeal without any injuries in Barangay Sikatuna Village, Quezon City, last Jan. 16. 

According to the report, the incident occurred while  the child was walking home from school and his leg slipped into a gap in the steel grating that serves as a drainage cover. 

Portions of the metal cover had already been dislodged, creating an opening along the pedestrian path.

Residents tried to assist the child but it took them around 30 minutes before the child's trapped leg was successfully freed from the steel grating. 

Authorities said the child did not sustain any injuries, or fractures. 

Atty. Mark Dale Perral, Quezon City Department of Engineering head,  said initial findings showed that the steel grating was already more than 20 years old.

“Natanggal yung ibang steel grating so nagkaroon ng space in between. As per initial inquiry, parang more than 20 years na yung steel grating na yan (The other steel grating was removed so there was a space in between. As per initial inquiry, that steel grating appears to be more than 20 years old),” he said. 

Following the incident, a mobility advocacy group reiterated its call for safer roads and walkways, particularly for pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. 

One of the core pillars of the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan 2023–2028 is the creation of safer roads, especially for pedestrians.

“This incident makes clear that current conditions are falling short of that goal,” said Lou Gepuela, director of mobility advocacy group AltMobility.

Residents urged authorities to conduct inspections and immediate repairs of old drainage covers and steel gratings in the area to prevent similar incidents, especially along routes commonly used by children.