A five-year-old boy drowned when he took a deadly tumble down a deep septic tank at a wastewater treatment plant.

The tragic incident took place at the Avelino Pereira Complex in Manaus, Amazonas state, northern Brazil on Saturday, 10th September.

Local residents told the Fire Department that the boy had been playing with two friends at the plant when the accident happened.

The youngsters are believed to have entered the site without permission, and Levy William Nascimento was playing on the cover of the tank when it gave way and he plunged into the void.

The Fire Department said he was still alive after the fall but a suction pump had pulled in his arm and left him trapped as the water started to rise.

Locals entered the premises to try to save him but were forced to leave when the pump started to give off electrical discharges.

They cut the wires to the pump, but when they went back to peer into the septic tank, little Levy was already underwater and was not responding to signs.

Firemen dispatched to the scene found themselves unable to drain the tank, so they called Aguas de Manaus – the city’s water services company.

Workers from the company were able to remove the pump, but by the time firemen had recovered Levy – some five hours after his fall – he was lifeless.

Aguas de Manaus said in a statement that it was providing all necessary support to the victim’s family.