Newborn Girl Survives Nearly 20 Hours In Woolworths Shopping Bag
A newborn baby girl was found alive in a Woolworths shopping bag in a bush in Oakford, near Verulam, on KwaZulu-Natal’s north coast, on Tuesday morning.
A couple walking to a local tuckshop heard a baby crying from a bush near several houses. They followed the sound and discovered the infant inside the bag, which they opened using scissors.
The baby was wrapped in a black T-shirt. Her umbilical cord had been cut but was not tied, and the placenta was still inside the bag.
Members of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) responded to the scene. Paramedics examined the baby and found her to be in good health before she was taken to a local government hospital for further care. Authorities were also notified.
During door-to-door enquiries, a resident told officers she had seen a woman discarding a bag in the same bush at around 14:00 on Monday. The baby was discovered at approximately 09:45 on Tuesday, suggesting she may have been abandoned for nearly 20 hours.
RUSA officers are continuing their search for women in the area who may have recently given birth. Anyone with information is urged to contact the RUSA Operations Centre on 086 123 4333.
Meanwhile, Jo Moodley of the Tongaat Child and Family Welfare Society has urged mothers experiencing crisis pregnancies or difficult circumstances to seek help rather than abandon their babies.
She encouraged mothers to approach hospitals, clinics, police stations or registered child protection organisations, emphasising that support is available without judgment.
Enquiries into the incident are ongoing.
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