Hunt is launched for dead baby’s mother after newborn boy’s body is found floating in canal by shocked passerby
- The body was found at around 1pm on Thursday, May 20 at Bentley Wharf Bridge
- Police have confirmed that a baby boy, believed to be a newborn, is sadly dead
- An investigation has been launched and police are concerned for the mother
A newborn baby boy was recovered dead from a canal after being spotted by a shocked passer-by.
The body was found at around 1pm on Thursday, May 20 after police and paramedics were alerted by a member of the public.
A cordon was placed around Bentley Wharf Bridge in Rough Wood Country Park, Willenhall.
Police and paramedics recovered the newborn baby from the water at Rough Wood Country Park, Hunts Lane, Willenhall
An investigation has been launched to understand exactly what has happened and also to find the whereabouts of the mother
Police have confirmed that a baby boy, believed to be a newborn, is sadly dead.
An investigation has been launched to understand exactly what has happened and also to find the whereabouts of the mother, who police are concerned about.
West Midlands Police Detective Inspector Wes Martin said: ‘This is a tragic investigation and our priority is to now find the baby boy’s mum to make sure she is ok.
‘She may be in need of urgent medical attention and she is our absolute priority at the moment.
‘We have been speaking to members of the public and would urge anyone with information to get in touch.’
A nearby school, the Willenhall E-ACT Academy, sent out an alert to parents ahead of the school-run to warn of the incident.
Students were also unable to access the canal area.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: ‘We were called by police at 1.14pm to Rough Wood Country Park, Willenhall.
‘We sent two ambulances, a paramedic officer and a critical care paramedic to the scene.’
Police are seeking potential witnesses and urge anyone to come forward with any information as soon as possible.
But members of the public have been asked ‘not to speculate’ on the incident.
If you have information please contact the police on their website or call 101, quoting log number 1963 of 20 May.
It comes after a baby boy was found abandoned in a park in Kings Norton, Birmingham, and a newborn was found dead in a Morrisons car park in Bilston, Wolverhampton, last month.
Only last week a newborn baby was found dead in a canal in north-west London.
The baby girl was discovered by a paddleboarder in the Grand Union Canal near to Old Oak Lane on May 9.