CHON BURI – A newborn boy was left abandoned in front of a shophouse in Si Racha district in the early hours of Thursday, in the midst of the cold spell sweeping across the country.
The baby, about 10 days old, was found by a married couple, the owners of the shophouse in tambon Surasak, said Pol Maj Amornwat Pandee, a duty officer at Si Racha police station. They reported it to police about 3am on Thursday.
The abandoned baby was sleeping in a cradle, with mosquito bites on his face and body. A bag containing diapers and some items for a baby was also found there, Thai media reported.
There was also a message apparently written by the infant’s mother which said, ‘’Please help take care of him, or give him to someone who wants to raise the child. Apologies for doing this, but I am unable to raise him. It’s better than aborting the baby."
Authorities later arranged for Phyathai Siracha Hospital to give the baby a health examination.
Wanchai Boonkham, 45, owner of the shophouse, said he and his wife were asleep. He was awakened by a cat-like sound around 2.30am. He woke up his wife and she said it was not a cat. They then opened the door to look outside and found the baby.
Police said the baby might have been abandoned by a teenage mother who was not ready to take care of the child. They would ask Mr Wanchai if he had any further information.