Police dog locates boy, 6, trapped in manhole

HERRIMAN, Utah, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Police in Utah said a 6-year-old boy who fell into an open manhole was discovered after about two hours by a police bloodhound.

Investigators said the Harriman boy told his parents he was going to a friend's house, but his mother soon discovered he never arrived at the other child's home.

Justin Hoyal with the Unified Police Department said a West Valley City Police bloodhound was called in to assist with the search and the canine picked up the child's trail from his bicycle.

"The dog went right to a manhole that was open and uncovered and found the child about 9 feet down in that manhole," Hoyal told KUTV.

An officer climbed into the manhole and helped the boy reach rescuers.

"He was cold, had some scratches and was ultimately transported by his family over to Riverton hospital with minor injuries," Hoyal said.

Sgt. Shane Matheson, handler for the bloodhound, Copper, told The Salt Lake Tribune the boy felt like he had been trapped for much longer than two hours.

"He was pretty relieved he had been found," Matheson said Saturday. "He said he thought he had been down there seven hours."

Police said the boy was likely playing on top of the manhole cover while it was only partially covering the opening and the cover gave way.