A 14-month-old baby has been rescued from a Brisbane street gutter after allegedly being abandoned there by her mother.
According to News.com.au, the baby was found in a pram on the side of the road by children playing nearby on Sittella St, Inala, on Thursday afternoon.
One of the children alerted their own mother, Amy Whiteman, who took the baby girl into her care. After checking with neighbours whether the baby belonged to them, to no avail, Ms Whiteman called the police and ambulance crews.
“She was quite dirty,” Ms Whiteman told Channel 7. “She was okay when I gave her a little bit of water. She just wanted to hold me and snuggle.”
Police arrived on the scene and found the handbag of the baby’s mother, who was later found during a routine police patrol at a set of shops about a 10-minute walk from where the baby was allegedly abandoned.
The mother was found to be suffering from a medical condition and was taken to the PA Hospital for treatment.
Police have since searched the woman’s Inala residence. Child protection agencies have been contacted and the baby will remain away from her mother until a court decision has been made.
The baby girl spent the night at the Lady Cilento Hospital where she will then be taken into the care of child safety.
The baby’s mother has been charged with endangering a child through exposure and will face the Richlands Magistrates Court on October 12th.
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