Dead baby found in university grounds

Police will be interviewing an Otago University student after a newborn baby girl was found dead, wrapped in a plastic bag, in the grounds of a hall of residence last night.

Detective Senior Sergeant Tony Wakelin said police were alerted by Dunedin Hospital after a 20-year-old student was admitted on Saturday around 2.30pm with severe internal bleeding.

It was established that the woman had given birth early on Saturday morning.

Police searched the residence and discovered the baby's body in a plastic bag in the garden at around 11pm.

It was not yet known whether the baby was stillborn, Mr Wakelin said.

A post-mortem examination was being carried out this afternoon to establish the cause of death.

Meanwhile, police had interviewed other students and staff at the unnamed hall of residence.

"Initially there was concern for safety of the mother because of the amount of blood she had lost," he said. "But her condition has now stabilised."

Police hoped to be able to talk with the woman this afternoon.

"We will now be concentrating on establishing the circumstances of the birth and how the baby came to be placed in the garden."

- NZPA