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Newborn baby survives after being buried alive in sand for seven hours in Brazil | London Evening Standard

A newborn baby has survived after being buried beneath sand for seven hours.

Newborn baby survives after being buried alive in sand for seven hours in Brazil | London Evening Standard
Newborn baby survives after being buried alive in sand for seven hours in BrazilAn aerial view of Matto Grosso state, where the baby's mother is said to liveAFP/Getty Images

A newborn baby has survived after being buried beneath sand for seven hours.

Reports say the girl was buried in the Xingu Park in Mato Grosso state, in Brazil, shortly after she was born on Tuesday.

Xingu Park is an indigenous territory in the north east of Brazil, composed of around 14 different tribes.

Police dug the naked baby out of the sand with her umbilical cord still attached.

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It is believed its mother is a 15-year-old girl and the father "refused to recognise" the child.

State prosecutor Paulo Roberto do Pradio told Sky News: "We are investigating whether it was an attempted infanticide or if she thought the baby was dead."

He added that the baby remained in an intensive care unit and was "doing well".

The family was interviewed by police, as well as an anthropologist, a psychologist, and a representative of the Funai (the government body in charge of indigenous affairs).

Mr do Pradio said police were working to establish whether the case was linked to indigenous customs.