Frantic search for mother and baby after signs of birth found on Sydney riverbank
Police at the scene beside the Cooks River at Earlwood in Sydney.
A search is underway in Sydney for a mother and her newborn baby. Police are searching the banks of the Cooks River after discovering evidence suggesting a recent birth there.
Divers are combing the water while a specially trained dog sniffs for traces of blood. Authorities are concerned about the well-being of both the mother and child.
While walking their dog along the Cooks River in Earlwood on Monday, a resident stumbled upon what turned out to be a placenta and umbilical cord.
Police immediately secured the scene and conducted tests, confirming the organs were human. This grim discovery has sparked a search for the mother and newborn baby, with authorities expressing serious concerns for their health.
Superintendent Christine McDonald said lights had been brought in to allow the launch of a large-scale search on Monday night. However, the search resumed on Tuesday (May 28) morning with police divers searching the mangroves and the water’s edge.
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Superintendent informed that it would take some time to work through the scene as it is muddy down there.
A dog who was especially trained to detect the blood also arrived on the scene on Tuesday morning after police secured the area for further forensic examination.
“Our search will identify what has happened here, whether the delivery of that child occurred at this location or another location is yet to be determined,” McDonald said. “I ask anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.”
“It’s very important and it’s extreme urgency we find the mother and the child as soon as we can. We ask she goes to a hospital. We will be contacting hospitals,” he added further.
However, the police urged the residents within the vicinity of Lang Road, Wardell Road, Ewen Park and Tennent Parade to come forward who may have seen a woman in distress.
Police informed that at this stage there was no evidence the baby had been harmed.
On Tuesday morning, investigators sent the placenta and umbilical cord for further testing. These tests aim to determine the gestational age of the baby, its gender, and how long the placenta and umbilical cord had been by the riverbank. This additional information could prove crucial in locating the mother and child.
The New South Wales health minister, Ryan Park, said, “My heart absolutely goes out to the mother and child, and repeated the advice from police – that she should attend a hospital.”
(With inputs from agencies)