The newborn abandoned in the early hours today near the Leiria Fire Station is in good condition and is estimated to be a day old, confirmed by an official source from the Local Health Unit (ULS) of the Leiria Region.
“The child is well. He arrived [at the hospital] warm, covered with a blanket,” stated the source to the agency Lusa, noting that the newborn, upon initial observation, “is possibly a day old.”
The ULS added that the baby, “still with an umbilical cord, besides the ‘clothing and blanket,’ had ‘a thermal bag, a bottle, and milk.'”
According to the ULS, which includes the Hospital of Santo André in Leiria, “the child will remain under observation in the Pediatrics department for clinical monitoring,” and it will be up to “the competent authorities to conduct their investigation.”
The director of the pediatrics department at the Hospital of Leiria, Dr. João Agro, told CNN that the baby, estimated to be about 24 hours old, was well cared for, indicating that there was “some concern and care” by the person who left him.
For the health professionals at this hospital center, this incident may indicate that “someone is struggling”; since the person who left the child ensured he was well cared for and placed in a location where he would be found and properly treated. For this reason, they emphasized that they “are available to provide any support to the child’s mother.”
A newborn was left earlier today near the Leiria Fire Station, from where he was transported to the Hospital of Leiria, the fire commander confirmed.
The incident occurred at 3:57 a.m. when the baby was found at the entrance of the fire station, inside a shopping bag, reported the source.
The baby, a boy, was then taken to the Hospital of Leiria for evaluation, and the case was handed over to the authorities.
CNN Portugal initially reported the information, adding that the shopping bag contained diapers and milk along with the baby.
Footage from the surveillance cameras outside the fire station is being preserved, which may help identify who abandoned the newborn, the source added.
The commander of the Leiria Fire Station, José Rito, stated that the baby was left by a woman at the entrance of the station, near the communications center.
An official source from the Leiria District Command clarified that the Public Security Police (PSP) was informed of the situation by 5:30 a.m. by the firefighters, and an alleged crime of exposure or abandonment is being considered.
The PSP is awaiting the footage to proceed with the investigation, added the PSP source.
