The dramatic moment a baby boy was forcibly taken from his breastfeeding mother’s arms in NSW has been caught on camera.
The eight-month-old “gumnut” baby was taken from his family, who are believed to live in bushland near Byron Bay, last week.
In a video posted to social media, NSW Police officers, as well as Family and Community Services can be seen speaking to the mother, who pleads with them not to remove her child.
Authorities are initially heard trying to talk the mother into handing the child over before moving in to forcibly take him.
“This is not right. This is my baby,” the topless mother is heard telling authorities.
“This is against human rights. Don’t do this to him.”
At one point, a police officer tells the mother: “It’s not going to end any differently at the moment so the best thing for you is to listen”.
“I’ve got concerns for the safety of your baby,” the police officer continues, to which the mother is heard saying, “no, no”.
The mother is seen continuing to clutch to her child and is heard arguing with authorities as a police officer keeps a hand on her.
At another point, the mother asks the police officer to let go of her, which the officer refuses to do.
“I will not have you take my baby. I birthed this child. He will drink my milk,” the mother is heard saying.
After a few minutes, the situation appears to escalate as two police officers are seen holding the mother back as the child, who is heard crying, is forcibly removed from her arms.
Authorities are seen carrying the baby away before the video ends.
On a fundraising page set up to support the family, the eight-month-old is described as a “gumnut” baby – a reference to a book by May Gibbs about babies who live in the bush.
“As Mothers, Fathers, Aunties, Uncles and Grandparents we can feel the trauma this separation is causing to our family,” a statement from the parents on the fundraiser says.
“We eat & live an Organic lifestyle and love spending our time in nature, swimming and having fun.”
The baby’s parents tell of how they wash him with “fresh fluoride chlorine chemical free water from the sky” and how those with him now are most likely “using artificial perfume and bathing him in chems”.
The parents, who cannot be identified, also accuse authorities of unlawful action and claim they have not been informed of the child’s whereabouts.
“The money raised from this fund will go towards rescuing our son and bringing him home in our arms, where he belongs,” the parents said.
The reason for the child’s removal remains unclear.
A spokesperson from the Department of Communities and Justice said it “takes concerns about children’s safety and wellbeing extremely seriously”.
“At times, however, the public’s concern is at odds with our statutory requirement to protect privacy,” the statement provided to 7NEWS.com.au said.
“As a result, DCJ cannot comment on individual child protection matters.”