Boy rescued from drainage ditch in Watsonville

Thanks to the heroics of his brother and rescue crews, an 11-year-old boy was saved from the rushing waters of a drainage ditch in Watsonville Sunday.

Firefighters said Monday that the boy slipped into a ditch near Laken Drive and Holohan Road while taking a walk with his 13-year-old brother, his mother and another adult. The older boy was able to grab his younger brother and hold him until rescuers arrived.

Several rescuers fell into the water during the rescue. One firefighter and the 11-year-old were taken to the hospital as a precaution. Both are expected to be okay.

Rescuers said the outcome could have been much worse. The boy was in danger of being swept downstream, where the drainage ditch and eventually goes underground.