Newborn baby found dumped in park in freezing temperatures
“She was crying for her life”
A baby was found abandoned in a London park in the middle of winter, and would have perished were it not for a woman walking by with her dog.
The newborn baby is believed to have been less than an hour old when she was discovered. She was wrapped in a plastic bag and still had her umbilical cord attached.
Rima Zvaliauskiene and her 27-year-old son Ovidijus came upon the young infant after hearing her cries.
They discovered her near a park bench around 10pm. The temperature was below freezing and the baby had nothing but a towel and the bag she was wrapped in.
“There was a crying noise from the bag. She was crying for her life. The baby saved herself,” Rima told the Daily Mail.
The baby has been named Roman and is currently being cared for by nurses at a local hospital, while police launch an investigation to find her mother.
“She looked a bit purple. She was very cold to the touch,” Rima’s son Ovidijus said.
“Her forehead and ears looked like they were a bit frosty, she was cold. We feel great that we helped save the baby’s life. I’m glad we were there or the baby might not have survived too much longer.”
Police have also issued a plea to the girl’s mother asking her to come forward, saying they are concerned for her welfare.
“I urge you to make contact either with police, your local hospital or GP surgery,” said Inspector Shane Clarke.
“It is really important that we know that you are safe. I would also urge anyone who has information that could help us to reunite this baby with her mother to come forward.”
Nicola Conville has worked as a journalist and editor for more than 20 years across a wide range of print and online publications. Her areas of expertise are parenting, health and travel. She has two children; Lucy, age eight, and Nathan, age five.