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A Mount Isa garbo is being hailed as a hero after he stopped his truck when he heard a tapping coming from inside the garbage truck.
He found a 12-year-old boy who would have certainly been crushed by the compactor if the driver hadn't heard him.
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Detective Acting Senior Sargent David Hall told ABC radio the boy was lucky to be alive.
"I think this child is extremely lucky that he was not crushed," Hall said.
"Police really take our hats off to the driver, who did hear that tapping and made inquiries.
"It could have been a completely different story."
Police and child safety authorities are working to determine how the boy ended up in the bin.