After initial reports claimed the mother of a newborn discovered in a sewage pipe in China had abandoned her baby, police now say she called for help after the accident.

The baby was eventually discovered by the building's landlady.

Footage showed fire fighters removing the pipe on Saturday and taking it to a local hospital where doctors carefully cut the infant out.

Chinese media had originally reported that the baby had been abandoned by its mother in the pipe deliberately, but police are now saying that she went to the landlady to get help, they say.

Authorities say the 22-year-old mother had rushed to the toilet with stomach pains and gave birth to the baby which slipped down the toilet hole.

The newborn baby is recovering well, according to doctors who say he has suffered only minor injuries to his feet.

Police say the infant was released from the hospital today and was taken to a rural location by its maternal grandparents.