UPDATE: Police are continuing to urgently appeal for information to trace the mother of a newborn baby boy who was pronounced dead after being found outside a vicarage in Leeds.
At 9.18am yesterday (Wednesday), officers were called to the vicarage of St Peter’s Church, in Hough Lane, Bramley, where the baby had been found by the vicar next to the doorstep. tesco bag
Police and paramedics attended the scene and the baby was taken to Leeds General Infirmary by ambulance but was pronounced dead a short time later.
A post-mortem examination was held this morning but the cause of death is currently unascertained.
It has been established that the baby was full term and white.
The baby was left in a distinctive Tesco ‘bag for life’ and had been wrapped in a towel and a shirt. Also inside the bag was the placenta.
Detective Chief Inspector Nicola Bryar, who is leading the investigation, said:
“Our absolute priority at the moment is the welfare of the mother of this baby boy and we urgently need to trace her and make sure she gets all the relevant support and medical intervention that she is likely to need.
“Clearly the circumstances of this incident suggest that the mother will be in crisis at the moment and I want to give her my personal reassurance that her welfare is our main concern.
“We have been carrying out extensive enquiries with a range of other agencies who could potentially have had contact with expectant mothers and that work is ongoing.
“Although we can’t rule out the mother having successfully concealed this pregnancy from everyone she knows, we think there will be someone out who may know who she is.
“The baby was found wrapped in a towel and a shirt in a distinctive Tesco bag for life and we have released an image of an identical type of bag. Does anyone recognise that bag as one that has gone missing recently from their home or that someone they have suspicions about may have had access to?
“We believe he was left at the vicarage sometime during the hours of darkness Tuesday into Wednesday and we would like to hear from anyone who was in the area and saw someone in the vicinity, possibly acting suspiciously, or in possession of this type of Tesco bag.
“The death of this baby boy in these circumstances is a real human tragedy and we need to establish exactly how this situation has come about. The last thing we need is for that tragedy to be compounded by the ongoing risks to the mother which is why we urgently need to find her.”
Anyone with information asked to contact police via 101 quoting log number 354 of November 23.
ORIGINAL POST: Police are appealing for information after a newborn baby was found outside the vicarage of St Peter’s Church, in Hough Lane, Bramley.
The male child was taken to Leeds General Infirmary by ambulance but was pronounced dead a short time later.
Enquiries are ongoing to identify the child and his mother and officers are keen to hear from anyone with any information that could assist the investigation.
Officers are extremely concerned for the mother’s welfare and the fact that she may need urgent medical attention given the potential circumstances surrounding the baby’s birth.
The baby was found at 9.18am.
Anyone with information or who may have seen anyone in the vicinity of the vicarage overnight is asked to contact police via 101 quoting log number 354 of November 23.