Story By: John Feng, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report

WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT

Video Credit: AsiaWire

This footage shows an infant’s lifeless body lying face down in a muddy river as cops launch a hunt for the tot’s parents.

Authorities in the city of Leshan, which is in China’s south-western province of Sichuan, were called to investigate after the baby was seen floating on the surface of the Zhugong Stream.

The harrowing find was seen at around 8am local time on 22nd August, with the child thought to have been around one year old at the time of death.

Pictures Credit: AsiaWire

Leshan police say the baby, whose gender has not been disclosed, appeared to have been dead for several days, citing the infant’s bloated body and rotting flesh.

However, there were no other clues as to the baby’s identity.

Officers retrieved the child’s body with the help of a sanitation worker, and authorities have taken the small victim to be examined.

Sichuan lawyer Wang Lianhou, who is head of the Fodu Law Firm, has said local police will have a strong case to charge the child’s parents with murder if the coroner determines that the apparent abandonment resulted in the baby’s death.

The police say they are still trying to ascertain the precise cause of death, and are understood to be asking for an autopsy. The investigation is ongoing.

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