Drunk dad drops baby on head (Newcastle, Australia)

UNIDENTIFIED DAD who couldn't even get through one night of babytending without nearly killing one of the babies.

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/news/crime-and-law/drunk-father-drops-baby-on-head/2649072.aspx

Drunk father drops baby on head

STEPHEN RYAN

14 Aug, 2012 08:59 AM

A BABY boy is in John Hunter Hospital with bleeding on the brain and blindness after his drunk father dropped him on his head, Newcastle Local Court heard yesterday.

The boy had more tests yesterday after he was rushed to hospital with numerous head injuries including haemorrhages behind the eyes that have blinded him, a police statement said.

No prognosis for the boy’s sight or general health was provided.

The father, 32, was so drunk when ambulance officers arrived at the home south of Lake Macquarie on Saturday night that he could not provide the child’s name or date of birth, the statement said.

He had been left in charge of the boy and another baby for the night when he drove them to a bottleshop to buy a 700-millilitre bottle of Jim Beam and two bottles of cola, the statement said.

He put the babies to bed when they got home before the boy stirred later in the night and needed a feed.

The father had drunk about three-quarters of the bottle of bourbon by then, the statement said.

He fed his son and sat the baby on the lounge while he continued drinking.

The father, who cannot be identified, was holding a glass in his right hand when he went to ‘‘scoop’’ the boy up with his left and dropped him.

The boy cried then went limp with his eyes open and staring blankly, the statement said. The father phoned a relative who told him to call an ambulance.

The father was standing outside the house holding the baby when paramedics arrived.

The child was not adequately clothed and was cold, the statement said. His temperature was later taken and had dropped to 34.6 degrees.

The father was interviewed at the hospital at 3am on Sunday and arrested later that day.

He told police in another interview on Sunday night that he was drunk and careless when he dropped the child, the statement said.

He was charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm and did not enter a plea. He was granted bail and will face court again next week.