Charlotte Bevan was filmed on CCTV leaving Bristol Maternity Hospital
Police say they are confident the infant is Ms Bevan's baby daughter, Zaani Tiana Bevan Malbrouck.
Ms Bevan, whose body was identified on Thursday afternoon, was filmed on CCTV walking out of Bristol Maternity Hospital on Tuesday carrying the child.
Detective Chief Inspector Simon Crisp said the infant's body was found near where officers located Ms Bevan.
"I regret to inform you that a short time ago on the cliff face close to Charlotte, the body of a small baby girl has been found," he said.
"No formal identification has so far taken place, but we anticipate that it is going to be Charlotte's daughter.
"We will be conducting an investigation on behalf of the coroner. At the moment we are not treating either death as suspicious."
A statement released by Ms Bevan's mother Rachel Fortune said: "My beautiful daughter and granddaughter are now at peace.
The response and support from the public has been overwhelming and we would like to thank you all."
Ms Bevan's body was found in the Avon Gorge below the suburb of Clifton late on Wednesday.
She had walked out of hospital wearing no coat and hospital slippers, prompting fears for her safety.
Police had earlier informed the family that a body had been found.
Elizabeth Cairncross, headteacher of Wells Cathedral School, her former school, released a statement of condolence.
She said: "We all are deeply saddened at Wells to hear of Charlotte's tragic death.
"We remember Charlotte with great affection, and our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this terrible time."
Officers continued searching the steep sides of the gorge below the Bristol suburb of Clifton for the baby after the mother was found.
The baby's father Pascal Malbrouck told a news conference on Wednesday that he was very concerned about Ms Bevan as she had suffered from mental health problems.
Sky's Siobhan Robbins said one line of enquiry is focusing on the possibility that Ms Bevan may have stopped taking medication for the mental illness because she was breastfeeding.
Ms Bevan is believed to have been suffering from schizophrenia and depression and had been sleep deprived after giving birth.
A spokeswoman for University Hospitals Bristol Trust said a review of the care Ms Bevan and her baby received would be undertaken.
"We are deeply saddened to hear the news of the death of Charlotte Bevan and offer our heartfelt condolences to her family," the Trust spokeswoman said.
"While it remains unclear as to how Charlotte died, we will be conducting a thorough review of the care Charlotte and her baby received to see if there was anything we could have done to prevent this tragic and unexplained death."
Culled from Sky News
No comments:
Post a Comment