Eight little ducklings nearly ended up down the drain but for the efforts of Christchurch firefighters this morning.
A young woman walking in Marshland spotted the ducklings' frantic mother near a storm water drain on Te Rito St about 8.45am.
Upon closer inspection she spotted eight ducklings trapped about 1m down beneath the drain grate unable to get out, St Albans Fire Station station officer Peter McArdle said.
She got other passersby to help but they were unable to lift the heavy grate, so she called the Fire Service.
McArdle said once they got the grate up, a firefighter leaned down into the drain, with his colleagues holding his lower body so he didn't fall in, too.
