An infant has died after falling into a septic tank on Thursday afternoon in rural Whanganui.

Police are describing the incident as a “tragic accident” in a brief statement released on Thursday evening.

“An infant has died in what appears to have been a tragic accident,” the statement said.

“Police are investigating.”

No information has been released as to how the infant came to fall into the tank at a property on Watt Livingstone Rd in Westmere, north east of Whanganui.

The Herald understands ambulance crews were first on the scene, followed by firefighters, then police.

Emergency services were called to the property on Watt Livingstone Rd, Westmere, a rural community northeast of Whanganui, shortly after 3pm, St John said.

A rescue helicopter and two ambulances rushed to the scene.