Healthy newborn girl found beside Phuket trash can

PHUKET: Police are searching for the mother of a healthy newborn girl found abandoned beside a trash can in front of a house in Srisoonthorn, Thalang, last night.

Manit Limmanee had just left his house on his way to the local grocery store at about 7:30pm when he heard a baby crying.

“At first, I thought it was a cat, but when I had a closer look, it was an adorable infant girl wrapped in two towels and placed inside a garbage bag,” he said.

Mr Manit notified Srisoonthron subdistrict chief (Kamnan) Kittisak Sotraksa of his discovery. Mr Kittisak in turn called local Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers, who arrived and took the newborn to Thalang Hospital.

Staff at the hospital cleaned and fed the baby, and happily reported that she was healthy, weighed about 3.75kg and had no bruises.

“She was born only one or two days before she was found. Her umbilical cord was still attached,” said a hospital staffer.

“We believe she was abandoned immediately after being fed by her mum, as she had traces of milk still around her mouth.”

Lt Kraisorn Bunprasob of the Thalang Police told the Phuket Gazette his officers were checking CCTV cameras in the area for any sign of the mother.

“We are doing our best to find her,” he said.

The baby girl, who has yet to be given a nickname by staffers at the hospital, remains in care at Thalang Hospital.

— Thawit Bilabdullar