Forensic teams will search the mangroves around the Cooks River where a placenta and umbilical cord were found by passersby.
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00:00About 4.30 p.m. yesterday afternoon police were called to the water's edge
00:05of the Cooks River here in Irrwood in relation to what a passerby describes
00:09as the signs of a birth. Police attended and spoke to the passerby and we
00:15conducted some forensic examinations and I can confirm that a placenta and a
00:21umbilical cord of a human was located. Last night we commenced a search of the
00:28immediate area. That search has continued this morning. We have police
00:33divers currently searching the mangroves and the water's edge of the Cooks River.
00:39We also have a blood detection dog that has just arrived and just moments before
00:45conducting this conference we have located an area that we need to do
00:51further forensic examination and I will have more to say about that once we know
00:56what that is. Last night I appealed for anyone with
01:01information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Anyone that might
01:08have been in the area of Lang Road, Wardell Road, Tenant Parade and Ewan Park
01:16in the Irrwood and Hurlston Park areas that may have noticed a distressed woman
01:22or a pregnant woman and had any information that they could assist
01:27police with this investigation to come forward. That appeal continues. If anyone
01:35has any information it would be greatly appreciated at this time. Can I say that
01:43childbirth for many people can be a traumatic time and it can be very
01:48distressing. I am deeply concerned for the safety and the mental health of the
01:55mother and also for the safety of her baby. I ask that she comes forward to
02:02health services, to police, to anyone that can offer her any form of support during
02:09this very difficult time. I need to know that she is safe and I need to know that
02:15she's receiving the support that she needs right now. Yes that's certainly a
02:20possibility that the person that has given birth and subsequently the reason
02:27for the placenta and umbilical cord being in the Cooks River doesn't want
02:32anyone to know. There is no judgment. They need to know that we are concerned for
02:40them, that we are wanting to know that they are safe. As we know childbirth
02:46presents a number of health concerns hence why we are requesting that the
02:51mother goes straight to a hospital and speaks to health professionals. How the
02:55umbilical cord became detached is part of our inquiries.
03:00Was it cut? I can't say that at this stage. What I can say is that the
03:04placenta and umbilical cord has been sent for priority testing this morning
03:08with a pathologist and I hope to have the results of that today and I will be
03:13able to provide an update once I have those results. The gestation period is
03:18unknown. How long it was down by the river is unknown. So there's a lot of
03:23unknowns at the moment but that's why we're asking anyone with information to
03:27please help us with this investigation because we do have extreme concern for
03:33our mother and her baby and we want it resolved quickly.