Baby girl found dumped in Sainsbury’s bag in 1C park at just 30 MINUTES old

A BABY dumped in a Sainsbury's carrier bag in a freezing London park was "screaming for her life" when she was found, it can be revealed today.

Gran-of-one Rima Zvaliauskiene, 50, was walking her dog when she discovered the 30-minute-old newborn with her umbilical cord still attached in Newham, East London.

The baby girl, named Roman by hospital staff after the road she was found on, was dumped in a Sainsbury's Bag for Life next to a park bench at around 10pm yesterday.

Today, Rima told The Sun Online how the baby girl was "screaming for her life" when her dog sniffed her out.

She phoned police while her son Ovidijus Zvaliauskas, 27, sprinted out in his slippers from the family’s home 100 yards away to save the baby’s life.

Rima, who used to be a midwife in her native Lithuania, said: “There was a crying noise from the bag. She was crying so loud, at first I thought it was an animal.

“She was crying for her life. The baby saved herself.”

She continued: "I removed the towels and when I saw the baby I realised it was newborn.

"I ran back to the house and brought back a blanket to put on the baby.

"I was worried but when I heard her crying I knew she was a fighter."

Son Ovidijus said: “It was shocking. I would say it was inhumane, to do such a thing, to leave a baby like that.

"She looked a bit purple. She was very cold to the touch.

"Her forehead and ears looked like they were a bit frosty, she was cold.

“We feel great that we helped save the baby’s life. I’m glad we were there or the baby might not have survived too much longer.”

LOCALS LEFT SHOCKED
The Metropolitan Police said Roman was wrapped in a white towel which was put in the shopping bag and then placed on the ground next to a bench in the small children's play park. No attempt had been made to hide her, they added.

Georgina Player, 26, who lives around the corner from the play area in East Ham said: "The police came knocking at midnight to tell us what happened.

"They said she was only 30-minutes-old when she was found - she even still had her umbilical cord.

"She's at Newham Hospital and I'm going to go there this afternoon to drop some things off for her - babygrows, milk, anything. I feel so bad for the little thing."

Other neighbours spoke of their shock, with a 42-year-old mum who lives opposite the playground saying: "I saw the ambulance and police arrive and paramedics running and holding a baby wrapped in a towel.

"At first I thought it was a stabbing and I was terrified. I was the only one in the house with my baby."

She added: "It was freezing. It was snowing really heavily.

"It is really upsetting. She didn't have to leave the baby in the snow and cold, she could have left her on my doorstep and rang the bell."

A 72-year-old grandmother added: "My neighbour thinks the poor woman might have given birth there. "I really feel for her. She must have been so distressed and she did the best she could.

"She will have known the playground gets busy and someone will have found her."

Micky and Mandy Hines, who live opposite the scene, said they saw a woman running to help the abandoned baby shortly before police and paramedics arrived.

Mandy, 55, said: “She was running towards the park with blankets towards a man who was holding the baby.

“She threw the blankets at him and they wrapped up the baby as quick as they could.

Micky, 58, added: "It’s not very well lit at all so it’s remarkable the baby was found.

"It’s amazing the baby survived. It was well below freezing and there was a layer of snow on the ground."

Police confirmed that the baby girl is recovering in an East London hospital and her condition is now stable.

Officers have since released a desperate appeal for information, saying they were "increasingly concerned" for the mother's welfare.

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Appealing directly to the mother, Inspector Shane Clarke of the North East Command Unit said: "I urge you to make contact either with police, your local hospital or GP surgery.

"It is really important that we know that you are safe.

"I would also urge anyone who has information that could help us to reunite this baby with her mother to come forward."

Cops later released an image of the infant in hospital.

The Met said it was called to reports of an abandoned baby at a park area close to Roman Road and Saxon Road at around 10.15pm.

Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended and the baby was taken to a hospital in East London where she is being cared for.

Snow began falling across London yesterday evening as the UK experiences the coldest temperatures since 2012.

The public has been warned to take care in the sub-zero temperatures.

Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of the mother was asked to call police on 101 quoting reference CAD7825/31JAN or Tweet @MetCC.