Maricopa Police Heroically Save 9-Year-Old Boy Trapped in Sewer Drain

A Maricopa boy is recuperating from minor injuries after a daring rescue attempt involving a storm drain on February 9, 2025. The incident unfolded when the child’s mother, Kayte Leach, was occupied with her morning routine while her autistic son played at EVR Porter park.

When she stepped outside, she discovered that her son had crawled into a drain in a bid to save a small orange cat. By this time, neighbors had already alerted emergency services.

“I was very scared for him,” Leach recounted in an interview with InMaricopa. “He also has asthma, so I was ensuring he was breathing well and trying to keep both of us calm.”

Maricopa police arrived swiftly, managing to extract the boy from the drain in less than ten minutes. Unfortunately, the kitten he had gone in to rescue had already escaped, leaving behind only a few scratches on the child.

“He was evaluated by the Maricopa Fire/Medical Department for bumps and scrapes but thankfully was in good health,” disclosed MPD spokesperson Monica Williams.

Leach noted that the storm drain lacked a cover on its round entrance, which allowed her son access. “He got stuck on a grated part,” she said. “Even the police mentioned that there should be something in place to prevent that.”

Leach urged other parents in the area to educate their children about the potential dangers of storm drains. “Parents of young children or those with neurological and developmental disorders should inspect parks and play areas for open drains,” she advised.

The stray kitten that prompted this adventure remains elusive, hidden beneath the streets of Maricopa. “Unfortunately, I don’t have any additional information on the cat,” Williams added.