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30th Jan 2024

Abandoned baby girl finally leaves hospital with her foster family

Kat O'Connor

Baby Elsa was abandoned in sub-zero temperatures in England

A baby girl who was abandoned has now been discharged from hospital with her foster family, police have confirmed.

Baby Elsa was found by a dog walker in Newham, east London on January 18th.

The infant was abandoned in sub-zero temperatures and left inside a shopping bag, just an hour after she was born.

The infant’s umbilical cord was still attached and she was rushed to hospital.

Luckily, baby Elsa, named after the ‘Frozen’ character, was not harmed, despite being left in freezing temperatures.

Police are still searching for baby Elsa’s mother, but nobody has come forward. They are concerned for the mother’s welfare, but baby Elsa is being cared for by a foster family as the search continues.

A woman was spotted entering the area where baby Elsa was left on January 18th just before 9:00 pm. However, she has not made herself known to the police investigating the case.

Chief Superintendent Simon Crick, lead for policing in Newham, stated: “Baby Elsa is safe and well. I’m sure people will have seen recent reporting that she has now left hospital. Our colleagues in Newham Council continue to make sure she’s well looked after and cared for.”

The office described the woman in question as black, wearing a large dark coat with a light-coloured scarf or hood around her neck. She was also carrying a rucksack on her back.

“We continue to work with hospitals, social workers, and local charities. All of the information we have so far suggests it’s highly likely Baby Elsa was born after a concealed pregnancy and her mother was not a service user of these agencies.”

The officer appealed directly to baby Elsa’s mother.

“Your daughter is safe and well, but we need to make sure that you are too. You might need urgent medical care and support, and we can help you. Please call 999 and speak to us, or go to hospital.”

The office also urged the public to be kind and avoiding making nasty remarks about the infant’s mother online. Nobody knows what her mother is going through.

“There have been a small number of abusive and negative comments that are both unnecessary and unhelpful. All of us are looking at this from a position of privilege in that we have no idea what Baby Elsa’s mother is going through. Please consider what you post – and the possibility that she might even read it – and help us with our primary aim of identifying her to make sure that she’s OK.”

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