Young boy dies after climbing into drainpipe in NT

A nine-year-old boy has drowned after climbing into a drainpipe at a popular swimming spot in the Northern Territory.

The boy entered the pipe at Katherine Low Level around 5.15pm on Tuesday and did not come back out.

A search continued into the night before divers found the boy about 1.45am on Wednesday.

His family was at Katherine Low Level at the time and is being supported following his death.

Commander Neil Hayes described the boy’s death as “an incredibly tragic incident”.

“Our thoughts are with the boy’s family,” he said.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.