Desperate search for a missing mum and baby as cops reveal ‘placenta found in a park is likely to be human’
COPS are desperately searching for a missing mum and her baby after confirming that a “placenta” found in a park is “likely to be human”.
Jamie Clarke, 15, found the remains along with two school mates on Wednesday morning on the path along the Holly Brook in Southampton.
The Year 9 Upper Shirley High School pupil was on his way to school when he made the discovery before alerting police.
Officers arrived at the scene in under ten minutes and cordoned off the area.
Cops have now confirmed that preliminary findings “indicate this discovery to be a human placenta”.
The force has said there is no investigation into a crime, but officers are following “a number of lines of enquiry” in the area.
Police have been using tracker dogs in the park, with officers going door-to-door and drones been sent up in the sky to hover over the park.
Hampshire Police are now appealing for the mother to get in touch to let them know she is safe and if her newborn baby survived.
Southampton Chief Inspector Marcus Kennedy said: “Now that we have preliminary findings that indicate this discovery to be a human placenta, we remain increasingly concerned for the welfare of the mother and the child.
“I understand that this must be a very distressing time for you and that you may be frightened, but we want to make sure you are getting the right help and care, so please get in touch with us.
“We would also like to speak with anyone who has any concerns about someone who has recently been pregnant, that you think may have been pregnant or may have given birth recently without support.
“Anyone who contacts us can speak with us in complete confidence. Our absolute priority is to ensure the mother and child receive the assistance they require.
“Officers will remain in the area of Holly Brook Park for now. If you have any concerns, however insignificant you may believe them to be, please do not hesitate to approach an officer or to make contact with us.”
Anyone with information should call 101 quoting reference 44230246419.
Speaking to the Daily Echo, 15-year-old Jamie said: “I was going down the path to meet my mate.
“We saw a football by the bush and went to get it and when we were coming back to the road, that’s when I saw it.
“At first I thought it was a bit of an animal but when we saw it, it didn’t look like an animal. It just didn’t look like it, it was too big so we decided to call the police.”
He continued: “Some of us were standing near the roundabout and making sure there wasn’t anyone taking pictures or seeing it.
“Other police came, and we showed them and that’s when they said they would take over.”
Jamie’s mother Kerry Metcalf, 39, has since praised her son for raising the alarm.
She said: “These were three lads who didn’t really know what it was but did the right thing.
“You don’t get many 15-year-olds that would do that and I like to think what he did will help the mother.
“As a mother you think there is a mother out there who did that because she didn’t have the help she needed. It’s heartbreaking.”