A NEWBORN BABY with his umbilical cord attached has been found at a nativity scene at a church in Queens, New York.

Rev Christopher Ryan Heanue via Facebook Rev Christopher Ryan Heanue via Facebook

The baby was discovered by a maintenance worker at the Holy Child Jesus Catholic Church in Richmond Hill at about noon local time (7am GMT) on Monday.

Reverend Christopher Ryan Heanue told NBC 4 New York the worker was cleaning when he heard the baby crying inside the nativity scene.

Bishop Octavio Cisneros via Facebook Bishop Octavio Cisneros via Facebook

“The secretary burst in and said, ‘Father, there’s an emergency in the church, you have to come’,” Heanue said.

The baby was lying in Jesus’ spot in the manger.

Bishop Octavio Cisnero was also present. He said: “There was a baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes, in a towel. The umbilical cord was still hanging from the baby.”

Rev Christopher Ryan Heanue via Facebook Rev Christopher Ryan Heanue via Facebook

Heanue estimated that the baby was just a few hours old at the time.

CCTV captured a woman entering the church about 20 minutes before the baby was found.

The baby has been checked by medics and appears to be healthy. Police are investigating the incident.

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