Baby dead on Surfers beach; homeless parents questioned

GOLD COAST: The parents of a 9monthold girl found lifeless on the beach at Surfers Paradise were homeless and raising their family on the streets.

The infant was found unresponsive on the edge of the surf near Staghorn Ave about 12.30am yesterday.

Despite desperate attempts, police and paramedics were were unable to revive her.

The girl’s 48yearold father and 23yearold mother were being questioned in police custody after being found about 5km away in Broadbeach.

Police confirmed the couple were known to them and did not have a fixed address.

The family has been living in parks and seeking shelter from Tweed Heads to Surfers Paradise.

The girl had not been reported missing before her body was found.

Detective Inspector Marc Hogan said the scene was traumatic for everyone involved.

Insp Hogan said it appeared the girl had been in the water, but there were no obvious wounds or injuries.

‘‘Not that I could see,’’ he said. A passerby found the child’s body at the edge of the surf and raised the alarm but paramedics could not revive her.

Insp Hogan described the beach where the girl was found as ‘‘not your typical crime scene’’.

He said a ground and air search had yielded little evidence and the lack of physical evidence gave ‘‘some indication of what may have happened’’ — a suggestion the child may have drowned.

Homicide detectives from Queensland and NSW police are involved in the investigation. — AAP