A dog walker has revealed the shocking moment he discovered an umbilical cord and placenta on a muddy riverbank, as the search continues for a mother and her newborn baby.
Local resident Tony Robson found the body parts hidden in bushes on the Cooks River in Earlwood, south-west Sydney, about 4.30pm on Monday while walking his dogs.
Mr Robson and his wife alerted police to the discovery before emergency services arrived on the scene a short time later.
“It was just sitting on top of the mud, the water was quite a distance away,” he said 7 News.
Tony Robson (pictured) discovered the organs when he and his wife were walking their two dogs near the Cooks River at Earlwood in Sydney’s south-west on Monday afternoon.
Mr Robson, a father, said he immediately recognized the placenta and umbilical cord.
[I’ve] “I’ve seen three births, so you kind of know what you’re looking at,” he said.
‘I couldn’t think of what else it could be. It seemed about the right size for a human.
“My wife took a picture of it and we called the police.”
NSW Police continue to investigate the incident and have serious fears for the safety of the mother and her child.
Police urged the woman to go to the nearest hospital and seek medical attention for herself and her baby.
A crime scene was set up yesterday as a major search for the mother got under way with the help of rescuers, including divers.
Police (pictured) are still searching for the woman and her child after Mr Robson told them of the shocking discovery
A crime scene has been established and the woman has been urged to seek medical attention to obtain the necessary care for herself and her baby (photo, police near the riverbank on Tuesday)
A blood sniffer dog is also assisting in the large-scale search and rescue efforts after the woman and child could not be located on Tuesday.
Police were seen searching another area of interest on the riverbank and cordoning off the area with a blue tarpaulin.
Investigators initially identified the area as a place where something appeared to be buried, but the search was halted after it was deemed a false alarm.
NSW Police Detective Chief Inspector Christine McDonald did not rule out the possibility that the baby may have been placed in the water.
The police found no indications that the child was injured.
Searchers were seen putting up blue tarps (pictured) after a new search area was identified near the riverbank
Chief Inspector McDonald said on Monday evening that police’s priority is to ensure the mother and her child are located.
‘At this stage our main concern is for the whereabouts of the mother and child. “We see that as a real urgent matter for us to find her and her child, hopefully safe and sound,” she said.
Chief Inspector McDonald said police were not judging the woman and were only looking out for her welfare.
“They need to know that we are concerned about them, that we want to know that they are safe,” she said.
Anyone living in the 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 is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 .