Police at the scene in Holly Brook Park in Southampton (Picture: Daily Echo/Solent News)
Police are hunting a mum and their newborn baby after a placenta was found in a park by a schoolboy.
Officers found what they believed to be a placenta in the Holly Brook Park area of Southampton on Wednesday morning.
Police said they are now in a position to confirm that preliminary findings indicate the placenta is human.
It has been reported that the placenta was found by a 15-year-old schoolboy.
Jamie Clarke, 15, found the remains along with two friends on Wednesday morning on the path.
The Year 9 Upper Shirley High School pupil was on his way to school when he made the discovery before calling police.
Speaking to the Daily Echo, the 15-year-old 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.’
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.’
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Police said they are now in a position to confirm that preliminary findings indicate the placenta is human.