A NEWBORN baby may have been trapped in a storm water drain on the side of a Sydney motorway for up to five days before he was found by passing cyclists yesterday.

The malnourished baby boy was found abandoned at the bottom of a 2.4m drain, covered by a concrete slab, after a cyclist and his daughter heard the baby’s screams early Sunday morning.

News_Image_File: This newborn baby boy was found down a drain at Quakers Hill this morning. Picture: NSW Police

It took six men, including three police officers, to lift the 200kg slab and rescue the tiny baby, who was still wrapped in his hospital blanket.

Police were questioning the boy’s 30-year-old-mother, who is expected to be charged with attempted murder.

They are still trying to determine exactly when the boy was dumped in the drain, but believe he may have been there since Tuesday.

News_Image_File: Cyclist David Otte and daughter Hayley found a baby boy while riding along a bike track beside the M7. Picture: Cameron Richardson

David Otte was cycling on the shared path on the M7 with his 18-year-old daughter Hayley when they heard a strange noise coming from the drain at about 7.30am.

“We actually thought it was a kitten at first, but when we went down there we could hear exactly what it was, you could definitely tell it was a baby screaming,” Mr Otte said.

“We’re just thinking about the little fella, he’s a beautiful, beautiful baby.”

Mr Otte and other cyclists quickly contacted police, who rushed to the scene to help with the rescue.

Senior Constable Mark McAlister was among the first on the scene and helped to move the slab, before climbing into the drain with another detective to rescue the baby.

“It was a bit surreal actually,” Sen Const McAlister said.

“How could someone do it? I, myself, have kids and we’re expecting a baby in a few more months so it’s not good that someone’s going through this and has done this to a little one.”

News_Image_File: Inside the drain you get a clearer indication of the 2.4m drop the child enduredafter being dumped beside the M7. Picture Cameron RichardsonNews_Image_File: Westlink M7 staff use a crane to put the cover back onto the drain after it was removed earlier to save the baby. Picture: Cameron RichardsonConstable Patrick Morgan, who only joined the police force 12 weeks ago, also helped with the rescue effort.

“I just couldn’t believe a baby was down there. I was in shock. Luckily there was a lot of people here to help,” Constable Morgan said.

“I’m just glad he’s okay.”

Mr Otte delivered baby clothes to Westmead Children’s Hospital yesterday afternoon, where the baby remains in a serious but stable condition.

Police believe the boy had been pushed through a small opening to the drain and were concerned he may have suffered internal injuries from the fall.

A photo of the baby boy in Sen Const McAlister’s arms was widely circulated on social media yesterday as police appealed for the baby’s parents to come forward.

News_Image_File: Patrick Morgan, Mark McAllister and Darren McIntyre were the first police officers on the scene. Picture: Cameron Richardson

Yesterday afternoon, the woman from Quakers Hill met with detectives at Blacktown Police Station, where she was interviewed for several hours.

Inspector David Lagats from Quakers Hill Police said it would be unlikely the child would have survived in the drain yesterday, given temperature topped 40 degrees.

“He was already malnourished and dehydration would have taken effect so I would have had grave fears for the child’s welfare had it been exposed to this weather for the rest of the day,” Insp Lagats said.

Lisa Charet, district director from the Department of Families and Community Services, said it was likely the child would be released from hospital into the care of the state.

“When this sort of thing happens, people are in a place of desperation,” Ms Charet said.

David Otte and his daughter Hayley, as well as her mum Michelle, dropped off three sets of baby clothes, a new baby blanket and a face washer and towel.

“We wanted to see him, but the hospital said we weren’t able to at the moment,” Mr Otte said outside of hospital.

“We’d all really love a chance to see him again. Today has been such an emotional experience for everyone.”

Mrs Otte said the family was moved to give the little boy the gifts because “he really doesn’t have anything”.

“We have family, we have each other. He didn’t have anything.”

Some of the cyclists who found him saw an Indian male in an orange shirt walking on the cycle track moments after they heard the baby’s cries.

Senior-Constable Mark McAlister was among the first on the scene and climbed into the drain with another detective to pull the distressed baby out.

“When I arrived there were several bike riders, cyclists and pedestrians standing around the drain. Myself and several other police have come up, we heard something coming from the drain,” Sen-Constable McAlister said.

BUBS THAT WENT BEFORE... August 2012: Six-week-old baby dumped on Joseph St, Lidcombe. Parents found arguing at Lidcombe station and child removed from family. March 2013: Baby Ahn, abandoned hours after being born at Canterbury Hospital. 30-year-old Korean mother left him at the hospital. April 2014: Baby "Mai", 18-month-old left on the doorstep of a Western Sydney home. Mother was taken to immigration detention but released on a bridging visa.

“At least six of us have then lifted up the concrete drain lid, when we’ve opened it we’ve sighted the small baby wrapped up in a hospital blanket. He appeared very young.

“How could someone do it? I, myself, have kids and we’re expecting a baby in a few more months so it’s not good that someone’s going through this and has done this to a little one.

“It was a bit surreal really. It’s great that someone actually stopped and heard it and had the initiative to give us a call.”

A photo of the baby boy in Sen-Constable McAlister’s arms has been widely circulated on social media this morning as police attempt to find the baby’s parents.

Lisa Charet, district director from the Department of Families and Community Services, said it was likely the child would be released from hospital into the care of the state.

“At this stage we are really worried about his welfare and mum’s. We can give her the help and support that she needs. She must be feeling enormously distressed,” Ms Charet said.

News_Image_File: The child’s cry was heard coming from beneath the concrete slab to the right. Picture: Cameron Richardson

“When this sort of thing happens, people are in a place of desperation.”

With temperatures tipped to peak above 40C in Western Sydney today there were concerns the child would have died if he had been found later in the day.

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