A newborn baby has survived six days in a storm water drain after being discovered on Sunday in Sydney’s North West.
The mother accused of abandoning her new born baby boy in the drain, has now been charged with attempted murder and refused bail.
Following extensive inquiries, including hospital record checks and doorknocks, police arrested and charged a 30-year-old woman from Quakers Hill on Sunday. The newborn was discovered by cyclists who were using the cycle path along the M7 motorway.
Rydalmere resident, David Otte and his daughter Hayley heard the baby crying during their ride at about 7:30am.
“It was so intense. You couldn’t tell it was a baby,” Mr Otte said. “We couldn’t see it but we could hear it. It was distressed.”
With the help of police and passers-by, they were able to lift the 200kg concrete top of the drain and found the baby 2.4 metres below.
“We were going to get that lid off no matter what it took,” Mr Otte said. “Physically, no one could have fit themselves down into that drain. A child maybe but not an adult, no way in the world.”
The child was found to be suffering from malnutrition, dehydration and internal injuries.
The newborn’s dehydration level suggested he had been there since Tuesday with Police alleging he was placed there just 24 hours after he was born.
The boy was still wrapped in a hospital blanket when he was found. Police say the newborn would have been in great danger yesterday had he not been discovered, with temperatures in Sydney’s North West reaching 45 degrees.
The child is now in a stable condition at Westmead Children’s hospital and is being cared for by the NSW Family and Community Services Minister.
