Baby survives being buried alive in a suitcase

A newborn girl has miraculously survived being packed in a suitcase and buried in a shallow grave in the Eastern Cape.

She was allegedly packed in the suitcase by her 34-year-old mother and buried in a shallow grave in Xholobe Village in Tsomo next to her grandparents – in the backyard of her family home – having been born just hours before on Monday morning, Dispatch Live reported.

The chief in the area had become suspicious after discovering the woman was no longer pregnant, but there was no sign of a baby. He subsequently contacted the police on Tuesday afternoon.

"She gave birth to a baby girl and immediately put her in a suitcase and allegedly buried (it) in a shallow grave in the yard,“ Eastern Cape police spokesperson Priscilla Naidu said.

’’Police went to Xolobe and found a grave in the yard.’’

On digging, Naidu said, the police discovered the child wrapped in blankets in the suitcase – still alive. The baby was taken to hospital.

’’The mother was arrested and also taken to hospital for medical attention. She is currently under police guard,’’ Naidu said.

A case of attempted murder is being investigated.

IOL