Detectives have today released the first picture of a baby boy who was found by a dog in a park.
The baby, thought to be just hours old, was found at The Mounds in Kings Norton, Birmingham, at around 5.30pm on Thursday.
The newborn has since been named George by hospital staff looking after him, because he was discovered the day before St George’s Day.
CCTV captured footage of a woman walking along the road moments earlier and this afternoon, detectives renewed their appeals for information at a press conference and released a photo of baby George.
Police said today: ‘Baby George is healthy and doing well. But sadly we’ve still not been able to find his mother. We’re very concerned for her and want to check she is doing okay, both physically and mentally.
‘Giving birth is a big thing and we’re concerned she will need medical help.’
The newborn has since been named George by hospital staff, because he was discovered the day before St George’s Day.
Baby George, thought to be just hours old, was found at The Mounds in Kings Norton, Birmingham
Detectives renewed their appeals for information at a press conference and released a photo of baby George today
CCTV footage shows a woman walking along Shannon Road just before 5.10pm that afternoon
The force said: ‘We’re appealing directly to the mother of the boy or anyone who knows who she is to please get in touch’
Baby George was found on April 22 and the force said it was ‘very concerned’ for the welfare of the baby’s mother.
Detective Inspector Neil Hunt, who is leading the investigation, said: ‘I am reaching out to George’s mother. You are my primary concern right now, and we really need to make sure you’re okay. I don’t know the circumstances around George’s birth but, as a parent myself, I know exactly how overwhelming becoming a parent can be.
‘We’re ready to offer you any help and support you may need. George is safe and well, and your health and wellbeing is our priority – please be assured that you are not in any trouble.
‘If anyone thinks they know who George’s mother is, I’d urge you to come forward to help me locate her − you can contact us in confidence.
‘I’d also like to hear from anyone who was in the area between 5pm and 6pm last Thursday, 22 April. If you noticed anything or saw someone, please contact us as a matter of urgency.’
George was found by a husky dog named Hel, belonging to semi-retired royal engineer Terry Walsh, 64.
Without the help of his husky Mr Walsh said he would have walked by what he thought was a discarded blanket.
He said Hel ran over, lay beside the rolled-up shawl and began ‘gently nudging’ the baby with her nose.
The 64-year-old said: ‘I turned round to grab hold of Hel so she didn’t walk over the glass, and she went off to the blanket, lying next to it and started nudging it with her nose very gently.
‘Suddenly I heard this baby cry. I think it was Hel’s gentle nudging and the heat from my Husky bitch’s body that woke the baby up.
‘A bigger dog or another dog with a different temperament might well have just ripped and tugged at the blanket and the baby could have been treated like a ragdoll and then you’ve also got the foxes and the rats and everything in there. How would they treat a baby?’
Semi-retired royal engineer Terry Walsh (pictured), 64, was left stunned when his female dog, Hel, miraculously uncovered the hours-old infant wrapped in a blanket at The Mound in Kings Norton
He was wearing an orange striped T-shirt with a picture of a dinosaur on it and the words ‘Dino Dude’
The child was found by a passing dog walker in a park known in Birmingham as The Mound, off Shannons Road in Kings Norton
West Midlands Police added: ‘The baby boy was possibly only hours old when he was found, clothed and wrapped in a blanket, by a dog walker.
‘He is being cared for at hospital where he is thought to be full-term, healthy and doing well. Sadly we’ve still not been able to find the mother of this little boy.
‘We’re very concerned for her and want to check she is doing OK, both physically and mentally.
‘This is our only concern right now, giving birth is a big thing and we’re concerned she will need medical help. This must be a very difficult time for her so we’re keen to talk to her as soon as possible.
‘We’re appealing directly to the mother of the boy or anyone who knows who she is to please get in touch.If anyone recognises the woman in the CCTV, please get in touch, she may hold vital information.’
George was wearing a £1 Matalan striped orange T-shirt with a picture of a dinosaur on it and the words ‘Dino Dude’. He also wore grey bottoms and was wrapped in a white-and-grey blanket with a zig-zag pattern.
People can contact West Midlands Police via their website or by calling 101 and quoting log 3476 of April 22. Alternatively, witnesses can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.