Baby out of danger after rubbish chute drop

SHARJAH // A baby who was thrown down a rubbish chute from the ninth floor an hour after being born is out of danger and improving in hospital.

The boy, who was in a critical condition with a fractured skull when he was taken to Al Qassimi Hospital last week, will be transferred from intensive care to a specialist paediatric room.

"The baby is currently in a good and stable condition," said Dr Mona Abdullah Khalaf, a paediatric consultant who has been handling the baby's case.

Dr Khalaf said physicians at the hospital had managed to stop the bleeding on the boy's brain.

Dr Arif Al Noryani, the hospital's chief executive, said the baby's weight was now a healthy 3 kilograms.

Staff planned to keep him for up to 10 more days until his condition fully stabilises. He will then be transferred to the Sharjah Social Child Care Centre.

The child was found at 6am on Monday last week in the rubbish bin of a Taawun building by a watchman, who alerted police.

Police say the baby's mother, a Filipina housemaid, gave birth between 4am and 5am while her employers were asleep.

It is alleged she cut the umbilical cord with a kitchen knife, wrapped up the child and threw him down the chute.

She was arrested a few hours later and has been referred to Public Prosecution.