Police looking for a mother and baby after an umbilical cord and placenta were discovered on a muddy riverbank have called off a section of their search after digging up a dead cat.
Officers identified a new site of interest near the bank of the Cooks River at Earlwood in Sydney on Tuesday and put up a blue tarpaulin in the belief new material might be found there.
However, searches later uncovered a freshly buried dead cat – leading cops to declare a false alarm.
Investigators were seen putting up sheets of blue tarpaulin (pictured) after a new search area near the riverbank was identified
Local resident Tony Robson found the human body parts hidden in shrubs on the river at about 4.30pm on Monday while he was walking his dogs.
Mr Robson and his wife alerted police to the discovery before emergency services arrived at the scene a short time later.
‘It was just sitting on top of the mud, the water was quite a distance away,’ he told 7 News.
Tony Robson (pictured) discovered the organs while he and his wife were walking their two dogs near the Cooks River at Earlwood in Sydney’s inner south-west on Monday afternoon
Mr Robson, a father, said he immediately recognised the placenta and the umbilical cord.
[I’ve] seen three births so you kind of know what you’re looking at,’ he said.
‘I couldn’t think what else it could be. It looked about the right size for a human.
‘My wife took a photo of it, and we called the police.’
NSW Police continue to investigate the incident and hold grave fears for the safety of the mother and her child.
Police have urged the woman to go to the nearest hospital to seek medical attention for herself and her baby.
A crime scene was set up yesterday as a major search for the mother got underway with the help of rescuers including divers.
Police (pictured) are still searching for the woman and her child after Mr Robson alerted them to the shocking discovery
A crime scene was set up and the woman has been urged to seek medical attention to obtain the necessary care for herself and her baby (pictured, police near the riverbank on Tuesday)
A blood detection dog is also assisting in the large-scale search and rescue effort, after the woman and child could not be located on Tuesday.
NSW Police Detective Chief Superintendent Christine McDonald did not rule out the likelihood the baby may have been placed in the water.
Police have not found any evidence to indicate the child was harmed.
Superintendent McDonald said on Monday night the priority of police is to ensure the mother and her child are located.
‘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 said.
Superintendent McDonald said police are not judging the woman and they are only looking out for her welfare.
‘They need to know we are concerned for them, that we are wanting to know that they are safe,’ she said.
Anyone who lives in the areas of Wardell Road and Lang Road areas of Earlwood, or Tennant Parade, Hurlstone Park and Ewen Park who may have seen a pregnant woman in distress, has been urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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