A newborn was found abandoned outside a fire station in Leiria early Monday morning by a firefighter who discovered the infant inside a shopping bag. This incident occurred shortly before 4 a.m., and along with the newborn, diapers and a bottle were also found.
The baby, approximately 24 hours old, was taken to the Hospital of Leiria. The director of the pediatric service at the hospital explained that there was clear “concern and care” from the person who left the baby at the fire station.
“The baby arrived well, was warm, and had milk and a bottle. It is a healthy newborn, well cared for, and does not require additional care,” said João Agro, the pediatric service director, noting that the baby weighed 3.5 kg.
Health professionals at the hospital suggested that the situation might indicate that “there is someone struggling” behind this act, as the person took care to leave the newborn in a place where it would be found and well-treated. They emphasized their readiness to provide any support to the baby’s mother.
These statements were made in the morning, and by late afternoon, the Public Security Police also issued a statement detailing the situation.
A newborn was abandoned during the early hours of Monday near the Leiria Fire Station. The PSP has identified, located, and charged the person who abandoned the baby, confirmed to be the mother. The baby is currently under observation at the Hospital of Leiria.
Mother Identified (and “Charged”)
The PSP stated that with the help of surveillance cameras, the newborn’s mother, identified as a 27-year-old foreign national, was recognized.
The authorities clarified in a statement that they were contacted around 5:30 a.m., with firefighters reporting that they heard “a noise” and when one of them “went outside, found the newborn inside a bag.”
Using the surveillance systems available at the fire station and scattered across the city, the PSP was able to identify the woman. These systems “were crucial for the investigation process.”
“After locating the woman at her residence, where a home search was conducted, she was taken to the District Command to provide the necessary statements, where she was charged following the order from DIAP of Leiria. Notably, she was subsequently taken to the Leiria Hospital Center for health examinations, where she remains under observation, apparently without major health complications,” detailed the PSP.
The newborn “will remain in the hospital until a judicial decision regarding their future” is made.
[Updated at 20:07]
