The man who found the dead body of a newborn baby floating in a Suva creek yesterday had initially thought it was a doll.

Serevi Naitokatoka who has been living at Luke Street, in Vatuwaqa since 2013 was out looking for herbal plants with his friends when he spotted the body.

“I was emotional and started shivering when I found  out that it was the dead body of a fully formed new born baby,. At first I thought it was a doll,” Mr Naitokatoka said.

Mr Naitokatoka, said that he has never encountered anything as traumatic as what he saw.

“Just imagine, the baby’s umbilical cord was cut with a Woodstock bottle lid, there were blood trails from what I suspected as where the mother may have given birth before dumping the new born into the creek,” he said.

Mr Naitokatoka said he also noticed women undergarments with blood stains close to where the newborn baby’s body was found.

A team of forensics from the Fiji Police Force was at the scene when the Fiji Sun arrived at around 3pm.

“I don’t know how I will be able to sleep tonight after this horrific experience, it’s just sad to see that the life of an innocent baby has to end this way.

He said the new born baby was floating face down and that the body had turned pale white.

Mr Naitokatoka had run home to relay his discovery before they returned to the scene to confirm that it was a dead baby.

“I then reported the matter to the Police, they arrive at the scene after 20 minutes.

He claimed that God had a purpose for me to go look for traditional herbal medicine at that particular place.

“At my first glance I thought it was a doll, but something told me to go back and check.

“I believe this must be the cries of the baby and God had a purpose for me to return to confirm that it was a human being.”

The body was found in a creek between a construction site and a temple of which Mr Naitokatoka said was a popular drinking spot after night clubs closed.

Mr Naitokatoka hopes Police would close down the spot commonly known to many as ‘GPH Ghetto’.

Police spokesperson, Ana Naisoro said they were still awaiting report from the forensic team before they can disclose more details.

Edited by Karalaini Waqanidrola

Feedback: arieta.vakasukawaqa@fijisun.com.fj