Major fear is raised in search for Sydney mother and newborn baby after grim discovery along Cooks River, Earlwood

The frantic search for a mother and a newborn continues after ‘signs of birth’ were discovered on a riverbank as police respond to fears the baby could be in the water.

A manhunt has been launched for a mother and baby after a passer-by walking a dog spotted a placenta and an umbilical cord on the banks of the Cook River in Earlwood, in Sydney’s southwest, at about 4.30pm on Monday.

The ‘evidence of birth’ were later confirmed by police to be human. 

Search teams, boats and divers returned to the river at first light on Tuesday after a large-scale search of the area was conducted overnight. 

When asked whether police were concerned the baby could be in the water, Detective Chief Superintendent Christine McDonald said the whereabouts of the mother and child were police’s main concern.

‘At this stage our main concern is for the whereabouts for the mother and the child, we see that as a real urgent matter for us to find her and her child, hopefully safe and healthy,’ she told a press conference on Monday night.

A placenta and umbilical cord found on the riverbank was confirmed by police to be human

Superintendent McDonald said it remained unclear whether the child was born on the banks of the Cook River or elsewhere.

‘All we know is that a placenta and an umbilical cord were located. Obviously, our search will identify what has taken place,’ she said. 

‘Whether that birth or delivery of that child occurred at this location, or another location, is yet to be determined.’

NSW Police has urged the mother and child to present at a hospital and said they do not need to speak to police if they don’t want to. 

More to come.