Arizona: Starving baby rescued by police after days alone following mother’s death
A newborn baby has been rescued in the nick of time by police and emergency services after being left unattended for days following the death of their mother.
Officers responded to a call from residents who were concerned for the welfare of the mother and child who had not been seen for several days at a home in Phoenix, Arizona.
After arriving at the property, police checked an open window on the side of the house and shouted inquiries to anyone inside.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Their observations via the open window gave them cause to initiate a forced entry to the apartment, where they discovered the baby, who was severely dehydrated and reportedly “clinging to life” near their mother, who had passed away.
Bodycam footage shows police entering the bedroom and spotting the tiny baby wrapped in a blanket on a bed.
Police quickly scooped the child up and placed them in a pram before paramedics arrived and administered life-saving first aid to the child.
“Inside the home, they discovered the mother had passed away and her baby was still alive, severely dehydrated and clinging to life,” Police said in a statement last week.
“The baby was taken to the hospital in critical condition. We are happy to report, the infant’s condition has improved greatly, and they’re expected to survive.”
The name and gender of the child have not been disclosed, and the mother’s identity or cause of death are yet to be determined, according to the New York Post.
“The mother had passed away while the child was still on the bed, still curled up where the mother had left them,” Phoenix Police spokesperson Sgt. Brian Bower told Arizona Family.
“It wasn’t learned until well after the fact from doctors and staff at the hospital that if the police officers didn’t immediately provide aid and didn’t immediately go into the apartment, the child may not have survived much longer.”
Mr Bower said the officers involved in rescuing the child had produced “smart, immediate actions” and the local residents were to be congratulated for “seeing something unusual and calling in for help.”
The baby has been placed in the hands of the Department of Child Safety, and police are continuing their investigation into how the mother died.
Lifeline: 13 11 14.
