A recently born infant girl, still connected to an umbilical cord, was discovered deserted at a bustling New York City train station. The newborn, swathed in a blanket, was found at the base of a staircase leading to a train platform at Penn Station on a Monday morning. Following an anonymous report of the abandonment, emergency services promptly arrived at the scene and transported the baby to a nearby hospital.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) confirmed that the infant was found “conscious and alert” and upon arrival at Bellevue Hospital, her condition was reported as stable. Authorities have not made any arrests yet, and the investigation is currently ongoing, as per reports from US media outlets.
According to the New York Post, the NYPD is currently reviewing surveillance footage to determine the individual responsible for leaving the baby behind at the subway station. No details regarding the person who abandoned the infant have been disclosed.
Describing the incident, New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow referred to it as the ‘Miracle on 34th Street’, highlighting the discovery of the unattended baby at the 34th Street station by the responding fire department and police.
Under the Abandoned Infant Protection Act of New York State, a parent can legally abandon a newborn baby up to 20 days old without facing prosecution, provided the child is left in a safe manner at an appropriate location such as a hospital, staffed police station, or fire station.
In a recent case in the Philippines, a newborn baby girl was found abandoned in a cardboard box beside a road in Tuguegarao City. The infant, under the care of social workers, was reported as stable and was scheduled for observation at the hospital for up to five days to ensure her well-being.
Chief Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. commended the prompt response of local residents and authorities, emphasizing the value of every life and the commitment to identifying the individual who abandoned the child.
Echoing these sentiments, a police spokesperson expressed gratitude for the swift action that saved the baby’s life, urging anyone with relevant information to step forward for justice to be served and for the child to receive the necessary care.