Tragic, a baby found dead on a golf course could have been there for weeks, police have said. A pair of walkers found the unclothed infant’s body at around 4.25 pm on Friday on Brackenwood golf course in Bebington, Wirral.
With the golf course having been shut for lockdown, investigators believe the baby could be there for up to three weeks.
A search is now on to find the child’s mum, reports the Liverpool Echo.
It is not known if the baby was already dead when it was dumped on the course and this may never be cleared up, said police.
There were no discernible or immediately obvious injuries to the child when he was found.
The boy was found in a lightly wooded area off a fairway near to the Mount Road side of the complex.
But it was not particularly hidden and was not buried and left covered with any branches, twigs, or leaves on top of him.
Experts have determined the baby was full-term, but his age, or even if he was stillborn, remains unclear.
Premature birth has been ruled out, however. A post-mortem examination was completed this afternoon but it proved inconclusive in confirming a cause of death.
Further scientific and medical tests will be carried out to try and learn more.
Detectives say there was currently “nothing to indicate a criminal perspective, i.e. murder or manslaughter” at present.
Detective Chief Superintendent Lee Turner, of Merseyside Police, said: “Any death of a child is tragic, this is even more so due to the fact it’s outside and we’re unable to determine how long he’s been there, and the cause of death is inconclusive until we do some more checks. We are keen to speak to the mum for a number of reasons, to identify her safeguarding to make sure she’s got any medical assistance she needs and for us to give us some detail as to how the baby has come to be where he is.”
Police are asking members of the public who noticed anything unusual in the surrounding communities in a woman’s behavior to come forward and speak to them.
While the baby boy may have laid undiscovered for a few weeks on the golf course, officers think this is entirely feasible as the venue is closed at present due to lockdown.
There are still public footpaths running through the Wirral-council run course that remain open to walkers.
Flowers and teddies have been laid outside the club entrance, as people have stopped to pay their respects.
