Young Melbourne boy escapes death after being sucked into a drain in Altona Meadows

An 11-year-old Melbourne boy has praised authorities after he was pulled from the depths of a stormwater drain as the State grapples with extreme flooding.

Victorian Police said the boy was riding his bike with a friend in Altona Meadows on Thursday afternoon when he accidentally rode across a submerged drain and was dragged 10m underwater.

Fortunately, his helmet caught on a metal grate on the other side of the road and held on for dear life.

Police forced the grate open to find the youngster desperately clinging to the underside by his fingernails before pulling him to safety.

The boy told his rescuers “I love you all!” before asking about his missing shoes.

Paramedics treated the boy at the scene and he was later taken to hospital.

Victorian Police First Const Peter Ivory was the one who pulled the boy to safety.

“When we arrived the boy was fully submerged and he was literally clinging to the grate by his fingernails so he wasn’t sucked underground,” he said.

“The force of the water was extraordinary.

“I’m so glad we could play our part in bringing the incident to a good resolution. I could not speak more highly of everyone involved, especially the passerby and off-duty SES member. They are truly the heroes of this story.”