Body of baby girl found in dump site (Warning: Graphic content)
(Warning: Graphic content) - A general worker, scouring the piles of garbage for recyclable materials, opened a black plastic bag and discovered the tiny body of a newborn girl wrapped in newspaper and toilet paper.
The little body lay among the rubbish. Innocent. Bloody. Dead.
The stench of rotting garbage and burning plastic masked the scent of death permeating from the alcove the tiny person was found in. Surrounded by the unwanted and discarded; plastic bottles, take-away containers.
Specks of sunlight caught through a bent and broken umbrella and lit up a cathedral enfolding the small body to protect her from prying eyes. A short piece of umbilical cord jutted out from her navel.
As they waited for medical personnel to arrive, police exchanged dark looks. The detective heaved a sigh and shook his head.
Shortly after 2pm on Tuesday afternoon, Richard Marais of South African Community Crime Watch Newcastle (SACCWN) received a tip-off from one of his BBM members, telling him of a grisly discovery made at the municipal dump site.
A general worker, scouring the piles of garbage for recyclable materials, opened a black plastic bag and discovered the tiny body of a newborn girl wrapped in newspaper and toilet paper.
“I found the baby, yes,” she said bluntly. “I called the security. This was the first time I found something like this.”
When asked if she was afraid of finding something like this ever again, she shrugged. “Tomorrow I will be back. I have worked here for a very long time.”
It is believed the little girl was full-term and fully developed at birth. An investigation will follow to determine the cause of death.
A paramedic from Emergency Medical Response Services crouched down as he gently wrapped the tiny girl in a silver foil blanket, reserved exclusively for the dead. He took slow, steady steps, cradling her lifeless body in his large hands as if yearning to breathe life back into her.
