Police are probing the tragic death of a newborn baby found dead in a canal this afternoon.
A passer-by made the heartbreaking discovery at Rough Wood Country park in Walsall, West Midlands, today..
Officers and paramedics were sent to the nature reserve but the tot - said to be just days old - was declared dead.
West Midlands Police tonight urged the baby's mother to contact 999 for medical help.
A spokesman said: “We’re investigating after a baby boy was discovered in a canal in Walsall this afternoon.
“A passer-by spotted the baby in Rough Wood Country Park, off Hunts Lane in Willenhall at around 1pm.
“Sadly it has been confirmed that the baby, believed to be a newborn, is dead. We’re now investigating these very sad circumstances to understand exactly what has happened and if anyone has come to harm.
“We’re examining the scene and speaking to potential witnesses and would urge anyone who has any information to contact us as soon as possible.”
A witness told how emergency services, including an incident support unit, arrived shortly after 1pm.
They said: “The nature reserve is cordoned off at pretty much every entrance. People walking up the towpath have been stopped and told to go back.
“Search teams arrived with wetsuits and there was a police officer carrying a drone.
“It’s just so tragic.”
One woman told how passers-by were being turned away from the canal.
Kailan Leach wrote on Facebook: “I walked the dog and they’ve cornered off every entrance to the field and woods.”
A man who claimed to have spotted the infant’s body wrote underneath: “It was me who reported it - I found a dead new born in the canal.”
Detective Inspector Wes Martin from force CID, 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."
West Midlands Ambulance Service was also sent to the canal.
A 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.”
