Police probe death of baby boy who was injured in Gunnedah before dying in John Hunter Hospital

Police have launched an investigation into the death of a four-month-old boy who was injured in Gunnedah and later died in hospital.

Police are appealing for information after a baby who was injured in Gunnedah later died in hospital.

A four-month-old boy who died after being rushed to hospital with “serious injuries” has sparked a major investigation, with police trying to determine if he was assaulted while in the care of a person known to his family.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal the four-month-old was staying with a person known to the family in the regional town of Gunnedah before being returned unconscious to his mum who rushed the child to the local hospital in the state’s north.

Officers were alerted to the baby’s injuries by staff at Gunnedah Hospital before he was flown to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, where he passed away that evening.

It is understood the person told the baby’s mother he believed he had suffered a seizure, but detectives are now probing whether the child was physically assaulted.

Oxley Police District crime manager Detective Inspector Tom Aylett said at a press conference on Thursday the child’s family was “assisting with the investigation”.

Police are investigating the death of a four-month-old baby in Gunnedah.

“The nature of the injuries are still being ascertained in fullness, but [it’s] fair to say they were serious injuries that lead to the child’s death,” Det Insp Aylett said, the ABC reported.

“We’ve got a number of family members that are assisting with the investigation.

“As you can imagine, the care of a four-month-old child is something that is a priority to a family, so we’re making sure we speak with all the members of the family and health staff to ascertain the circumstances around that child’s death.”

Homicide Detectives from Sydney have taken over the investigation, assisted by officers from the Oxley Police District established Strike Force Monier.

The incident has shocked locals in the tight-knit town, with many taking to Facebook to express their shock and offer their condolences to the family.

Det Insp Aylett said he was aware of much talking within the local community about the incident and urged anyone with information to come forward to investigators.

“We’re looking for anyone that is in the community that can come forward about the family, anything they witnessed or heard,” he said.

“People in the community talk, sometimes that’s rumour, sometimes that’s fact — we want the investigators to decipher what that is and would encourage anyone to come forward.

“Some people may think they have information that is relevant or not relevant — allow us to put the piece of that puzzle together, provide that information and we’ll make that determination.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Gunnedah Police Station on 02 6742 9099.

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Originally published as Police probe death of baby boy who was injured in Gunnedah before dying in John Hunter Hospital