A recently born baby girl, still connected to her umbilical cord, was discovered abandoned at a busy New York City train station. The infant, wrapped 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 responded, transporting the baby to a nearby hospital.
According to the New York Police Department (NYPD), the baby was alert and conscious when located and was deemed stable upon arrival at Bellevue Hospital. Currently, no arrests have been made, and investigations are ongoing, as reported by US media outlets.
The NYPD is reviewing surveillance footage to determine the identity of the person who left the infant, as per the New York Post. However, no details regarding the individual responsible for abandoning the baby have been disclosed.
Describing the incident as the ‘Miracle on 34th Street,’ New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow shared that the baby was found unattended at the 34th Street station. Under the Abandoned Infant Protection Act of New York State, parents can leave newborns up to 20 days old in a safe manner at designated locations without facing prosecution, such as hospitals, police stations, or fire stations.
In a similar event last month, a newborn baby girl was discovered abandoned in a cardboard box in Tuguegarao City, Philippines. Social worker May Asuncion mentioned that the baby was in stable condition but would be monitored at the hospital for up to five days.
Chief Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. commended the swift response of local citizens and authorities, emphasizing the value of every life and the commitment to identifying the person responsible for the abandonment.
A police spokesperson expressed gratitude for the prompt action that saved the baby’s life, urging anyone with relevant information to come forward for the child’s well-being and justice.