NSW Police are investigating the discovery of the body of a newborn baby in a beachside suburb of Newcastle.
Police were called to Stockton just after 7:00am, where the baby's body had been found abandoned in the backyard of a Church Street house.
The street was cordoned off and a crime scene has been established.
During a press conference, Newcastle City District Commander Brett Greentree said he was unable to say exactly how recently the baby had been born.
"It's very difficult to answer that at the moment. This will be a matter for the coroner," he said.
"There will be a post-mortem examination which will obviously provide us a lot more information with respect to the sex of the child, and how that child may have passed away."
Call for public assistance
Commander Greentree said officers had little information as to the mother's identity and he called for public assistance.
"At the moment we have very serious and grave concerns for the mother who may need medical assistance, and we're doing our absolute best to try and identify the female," he said.
"Surely somebody will have some idea and be able to assist us.
"It is just really a heartbreaking situation, it's very very sad, and we're hoping that between the investigations and the community we'll be able to identify this female and, first and foremost, make sure she has medical treatment.
"It's very important that this female has some medical treatment to make sure she is OK."
Commander Greentree said the person who found the baby's body did not appear to be linked to the death.
"At this early stage in the investigation the occupant of that residence has been assisting us and we don't think there's any connection at this point in time," he said.
"That person is assisting us with our enquiries as are the rest of the neighbours in area."
Commander Greentree said the person would be offered counselling, as would police officers.
"Certainly it's a tragic circumstance that I'm talking to you here today about," he said.
"Certainly the occupant of that house — we're putting support around that occupant and the police.
"We attend incidents that others won't go to or don't want to go to. So I'm very proud of the officers that go to these type of jobs.
"It just shows how difficult an occupation it [policing] is. But in saying that, we certainly have support in place for what is a heartbreaking situation for anyone to come across."
Anyone with information about the baby or the mother have been urged to contact police at CrimeStoppers on 1300 333 000.
