Police have released pictures of a baby boy found abandoned in a West Midlands park by a dog walker.
The boy has been named George by staff caring for him, because he was found the day before St George's Day on Thursday, April 22. He was discovered on open land known as The Mound in Shannon Road, Kings Norton, at 5.30pm. His parents have not been found, despite an extensive appeal for her to come forward.
Today, West Midlands Police released a picture of George a week after he was found. Police believe the little boy, who was dressed in baby clothes from Matalan and wrapped in a blanket, was just hours old, Birmingham Live reports.
Officers are yet to trace his mum despite issuing CCTV of a woman seen walking near the park minutes before he was found. Police said George was taken to hospital and had been "doing really well."
Terry Walsh, 64, said his Husky dog Hel "gently nudged" the newborn and he started crying. He believed his dog was "sent from heaven to rescue the newborn baby boy."
Semi-retired royal engineer Mr Walsh told Birmingham Live: "Suddenly I heard this baby cry. I think it was Hel's gentle nudging and the heat from my Husky's body that woke the baby up. A bigger dog or another dog with a different temperament might well have just ripped and tugged at the blanket and the baby could have been treated like a rag doll and then you've also got the foxes and the rats and everything in there. How would they treat a baby?"
He added: "I thank the Lord that the baby was alive, that could've been a lot worse. The baby could've been dead. I said to my neighbours, 'Heaven sent Hel to rescue a newborn baby boy!'"
The baby was dressed in an orange and white stripey 'Dino Dude' tee-shirt, which costs £1 from Matalan, grey trousers and was wrapped in a grey and white zig-zag pattern blanket.
Police said they they want to trace a white woman, aged in her early 20s, who was seen by several witnesses around the time the baby was abandoned. Last week, Det Supt Anastasia Miller, from the force, said "the most important person to him right now is his mum".
Addressing her, Ms Miller said: "However worried you may be, clearly you're in a difficult position, for whatever reason you decided you had no other option but to leave your baby son where you did."
The detective said the mum "clearly looked after" him and "does deeply care about him" as he was wrapped in a blanket and was wearing clothes.
Detectives have further sought to reassured the mum that she is 'not in any trouble'. Officers are still desperate to trace the woman. George is believed to have been just hours old when he was found
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Detective Inspector Neil Hunt, who is leading the investigation, said: “I am reaching out to George’s mother. You are my primary concern right now, and we really need to make sure you’re okay. I don’t know the circumstances around George’s birth but, as a parent myself, I know exactly how overwhelming becoming a parent can be.
“We’re ready to offer you any help and support you may need. George is safe and well, and your health and wellbeing is our priority - please be assured that you are not in any trouble.
“If anyone thinks they know who George’s mother is, I’d urge you to come forward to help me locate her − you can contact us in confidence.
“I’d also like to hear from anyone who was in the area between 5pm and 6pm last Thursday, 22 April. If you noticed anything or saw someone, please contact us as a matter of urgency."
Anyone with information has been asked to get in touch with West Midlands Police either by Live Chat or calling 101, quoting log 3476 of April 22.
Information can also be given anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.
