One-hour-old baby found alive in bag inside petrol station bin

An hour-hold baby has miraculously been been found alive inside a petrol station bin in California.

The baby boy, who had been put inside a bag that was then placed in a rubbish bin in the petrol station bathroom, was discovered by an employee when he was heard crying.

Firefighters were called to the Chevron gas station at Orangethorpe Avenue, Fullerton at around 3.30pm on Thursday.

Emergency services took the newborn baby to a children's hospital, where officials are saying he is in stable, but critical, condition, CBS Los Angeles reports.

Authorities are now examining CCTV footage from the petrol station in the search for the mother.

CBS Los Angeles

It's unclear as of yet whether or not the baby's mother had given birth inside the gas station bathroom.

Issuing a statement on the discovery, Sergeant Ryan O'Neil from the Fullerton Police Department said: "It's an active investigation. They're working all possible leads to do all they can to solve this issue.

"The call for service was a possible newborn child in the bathroom trash can. Upon arrival, officers located a newborn child in the trash can and immediately began life-saving measures.

"Fullerton Fire responded very shortly after and transported the child to a local hospital for further medical care."

He added: "I think that would be a tragic event for anybody who was put in that situation."

CBS Los Angeles

O'Neil noted that there are already protocols in place for new parents to safely give up their child after birth, so there was no need for this sort of measure to be taken.

"There are Safe Surrender Baby laws that allow parents, guardians or mothers to surrender their child within 72 hours of birth with no questions asked," he said.

"There are hospitals that are designated as safe surrender along with fire departments."

In the United States, a newborn baby can be safely surrendered at a fire station, police station, or hospital with an ER.

In California, a new parent must inform officials at the safe surrender site that they wish to give up their baby.

Children’s Hospital of Orange County

At the time of surrender, a bracelet is placed on the baby for identification purposes and a matching bracelet provided to the parent or lawful guardian, in case the baby is reclaimed.

A parent or person with lawful custody has up to 14 days from the time of surrender to reclaim their baby.

The Safe Surrender Baby program was officially made into state law in California in 2006 in order to save lives of newborn infants at risk of abandonment.