InfoHub Logo

In a remarkable display of presence of mind, a 7th-grade student in Aktobe, Kazakhstan, has been credited with saving the life of a newborn baby found abandoned in a package. Arina Tyaglova's swift actions, combined with the help of concerned citizens, ensured the infant's survival.

A Fateful Discovery

The incident unfolded as Arina and her friend Masha Belyakova were walking home one evening. They noticed a package emitting sounds, initially mistaking it for a distressed cat. However, upon closer inspection, Arina realized with a shock that a baby was inside.

Despite her fear, Arina immediately sought help from adults. She estimated the baby, found with its umbilical cord still attached, weighed around 3 kilograms.

Urgent Call for Help

Arina first approached two girls nearby, but they didn't fully grasp the situation. She then ran to a nearby shop for assistance. A young woman emerging from the store understood the urgency and accompanied Arina back to the package. Upon opening it, they saw the infant's head, prompting Arina to call her mother.

Her mother, Elena Tukhbatova, arrived, and together they contacted the police.

A Mother's Concern

Elena Tukhbatova described her daughter's call as panicked and trembling. "I was very surprised. The baby could have suffocated," Elena shared, adding that Arina has been having trouble sleeping, with nightmares about the package. Elena, who is raising three children of her own, emphasized that she had always encouraged Arina to be helpful and compassionate.

School psychologists are now working with Arina and Masha to help them process the traumatic event.

The Infant's Condition

The newborn, brought to the city children's hospital by police, was found to have signs of hypothermia but was otherwise a full-term baby. Doctors placed the infant in intensive care, and its condition has since improved.

Ongoing Investigation

The area where the baby was found is described by residents as unkempt, with piles of garbage and old garages, and is known for suspicious activity. However, no one has definitively identified who left the child. One resident reported seeing a young woman place the package under a tree, then move it to another tree nearby.

The police department has confirmed they are searching for the mother and have initiated a criminal case under Article 119 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, "Endangerment." This offense carries a penalty of a fine of up to 100 MCI or imprisonment for up to 2 years.

The baby was discovered on May 23rd in a courtyard on Turgenev Street in Aktobe, inside a double-bagged polyethylene package hidden under a tree.