Police searching for a mother and her baby after an umbilical cord and placenta were discovered on a muddy river bank have called off part of their search after finding a dead cat.
Officers on Tuesday identified a new site of interest near the shore of the Cooks River at Earlwood in Sydney and put up a blue tarp in the belief new material could be found there.
However, subsequent searches uncovered a freshly buried dead cat, prompting police to declare a false alarm.
Investigators were seen putting up blue tarps (pictured) after a new search area was identified near the riverbank.
Local resident Tony Robson found the body parts hidden in bushes in the river about 4.30pm on Monday while walking his dogs.
Robson and his wife alerted police to the discovery before emergency services arrived at the scene a short time later.
“I was sitting on top of the mud, the water was quite far away,” he said. 7 news.
Tony Robson (pictured) discovered the organs while he and his wife were walking their two dogs near the Cooks River in Earlwood, south-west of Sydney, on Monday afternoon.
Robson, a father, said he immediately recognized the placenta and umbilical cord.
(I’ve) seen three births, so you know what you’re seeing,’ he said.
‘I couldn’t imagine what else it could be. It seemed about the right size for a human.
“My wife took a photo of him and we called the police.”
NSW Police continue to investigate the incident and have serious concerns for the safety of the mother and her son.
Police urged the woman to go to the nearest hospital to seek medical attention for herself and her baby.
A crime scene was set up yesterday as a major search for the mother was launched with the help of rescuers, including divers.
Police (pictured) are still searching for the woman and her son after Robson alerted them to the shocking discovery.
A crime scene was set up and the woman was urged to seek medical attention to get the necessary care for herself and her baby (pictured, police near the riverbank on Tuesday).
A blood detection dog is also assisting in large-scale search and rescue efforts after the woman and child could not be located on Tuesday.
New South Wales Police Detective Chief Superintendent Christine McDonald did not rule out the possibility the baby may have been placed in the water.
Police have not found any evidence to indicate the child was harmed.
Superintendent McDonald said on Monday night that the police’s priority is to ensure the mother and her son are located.
“Right now our main concern is the whereabouts of the mother and child, we consider it really urgent for us to find her and her child, hopefully safe and sound,” he said.
Superintendent McDonald said police were not judging the woman and were only looking out for her well-being.
“They need to know that we are worried about them, that we want to know that they are safe,” he said.
Anyone who lives in the areas of Wardell Road and Lang Road in Earlwood, or Tennant Parade, Hurlstone Park and Ewen Park and has seen a pregnant woman in danger is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
