Dead baby found in water beneath New York's Brooklyn Bridge

No parent or guardian was present at the scene and the child showed no signs of trauma, say police

Police are investigating the death of a baby who was found floating in the water near New York's Brooklyn Bridge.

Tourists spotted the approximately 8-month-old boy wearing only a nappy in the shallow water near the Manhattan shoreline at about 4pm on Sunday.

Oklahoma-based chiropractor Monte Campbell said his wife, Diana Campbell, first noticed the baby.

“She just called me over and said there was a baby in the water. I called 911. At that point I thought it was a doll,” Mr Campbell said.

Mr Campbell said he “walked out mid-thigh level” in the East River and retrieved the baby and started CPR. He said the baby was not breathing and showed no pulse.

Police officers arrived minutes later and brought the baby onto the pedestrian walkway where they continued CPR before the baby was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead.

No parent or guardian was present at the scene and the child showed no signs of trauma, police said.

The location near the South Street Seaport on the busy East River, a tidal estuary subject to strong currents, divides Manhattan from Brooklyn.

Both park-lined shorelines are usually teaming with tourists during the summer months.

It was not clear how long the baby had been in the water. The medical examiner will determine the exact cause of death.

AP