A newborn girl placed inside a sack dumped in a canal was rescued in the Philippines.

The infant was moving around inside the fertilizer bag until a passing coconut juice vendor heard her crying under a bridge in Antipolo City, the Philippines, on October 20.

Unsure whether it was a baby or a dog inside the bag, shocked vendor Nikko Hilvano said he called local officials for help and climbed down the creek before unravelling the youngster inside.

Dramatic footage shows the rescuers rushing to open the sack before pulling out a red-faced baby.

Nikko said: ‘I was on my way home because it was about to rain. I heard a sound from under the bridge when I passed by.

‘I thought it was a cat, but it really sounded like a baby. I was scared to come down myself, so I called for help.'

The baby, who still had her umbilical cord and placenta attached to her belly button, was taken to the patrol car and rushed to the hospital, where she was given treatment.

She did not sustain injuries from the 5ft deep plunge but suffered from sepsis.

Local government official Jayson Somblingo said the baby was slowly recovering, and they are searching for the girl's parents.

Jayson said: ‘Witnesses said that there was a rider who allegedly dumped the baby in the canal. We are looking for him and checking clinics and hospitals for records of the baby. She had sepsis but is recovering from it.'

The baby will remain at the hospital and be given to the social workers once she is discharged.