A distraught dad has spoken of his horror after discovering the body of a dead baby in a canal.
Lee Coles made the tragic discovery in Walsall as he walked home from shopping on Thursday.
The 27-year-old, who has a toddler of his own, said he first believed the tragic infant was a doll, but called police when he realised what had happened.
Police are investigating after the newborn - believed to be just a few days old - was found at at Rough Wood Country park in Walsall, West Midlands.
Officers have appealed for the baby's mother to come forward and seek medical attention.
In a statement, West Midlands Police said the baby could have been in the water for up to four days.
Mr Coles, a full-time carer, told The Sun that he noticed the infant's feet and hands in the water in the water.
He said: “I went into complete shock. I couldn’t move. I had to sit down back - I felt like I was going to pass out."
Since the tragedy, he said he had been experiencing flashbacks, saying it made him "sick to the stomach".
“When I got home I hugged my son a bit tighter," he said.
In a statement on Friday, West Midlands Police said: "We are examining the scene and have been speaking to potential witnesses.
"We are appealing directly to the mother of this little boy - we believe she may be in need of medical assistance - and our primary concern at this time is to make sure she is okay, both physically and mentally.
"Equally, anyone who may know who this woman is, for example anyone who may have recently been pregnant, but isn’t now, is urged to contact us."
Detective Chief Inspector Jim Munro, from the force's CID, said: “This discovery is simply tragic. The death of this baby is absolutely heart-breaking.
“Our priority at this time is finding the little boy’s mother.
“We’re also working with partners in health, social care and education to see if they can help us identify his mother.
“I realise how distressing this tragedy is for the local community, but please don’t speculate on the circumstances of this upsetting incident, it hinders our investigation and is painful for those involved."
Chief Superintendent Andy Parsons, from Walsall Police, said: “I’m shocked and saddened about this deeply tragic discovery.
“My thoughts are with him and the wider community who I know are upset and concerned about the nature of what happened.
“We’ve got local officers in the area offering reassurance, please do speak to them if you have any concerns."
