2008-01-23Staff Report 2 By Anna Ingwafa Oshakati A baby girl is extremely lucky to be alive following an extraordinary birth. The baby was born while her mother was in the process of committing suicide early Sunday morning. Maria Niita Shigwedha (21) hanged herself from a tree near her house at Uukwanadjenga in Tsandi Constituency, police at Outapi reported. Shigwedha's brother who went out to fetch water in the morning discovered her body and alerted the family. According to police spokesperson, Liinekela Shikongo, the woman was heavily pregnant at the time. It is suspected that the labour was triggered by trauma as the mother struggled during her last moments. New Era could not establish whether or not the baby was delivered at full term. Shikongo said when the police officers arrived at the scene around 07h30 they discovered a baby girl hanging in her deceased mother's tracksuit bottom that she was wearing at the time. Shikongo said that the woman's tracksuit saved the baby from falling to the ground. The police officer who attended the scene took the baby from the mother and rushed her to Tsandi Hospital. An official from Tsandi Hospital yesterday reported that the baby is in a stable condition but could not be drawn to comment on what could have induced labour in this case, or if the baby was born prematurely. The deceased did not leave a suicide note, said the police. 2008-01-23Staff Report 2
