A garbage collector in Rio de Janeiro made a shocking discovery during his night shift on Tuesday when he found a newborn baby abandoned in a box next to a dumpster. Initially mistaking her for a discarded doll, he quickly realised she was alive, setting off a wave of emotion and online reactions.
A video of Samuel da Silva dos Santos holding the baby girl—her tiny legs visible under an ill-fitting pink blanket—went viral on social media, sparking both joy and outrage across the Brazilian city.
“It’s very emotional because she is a warrior, isn’t she? She was born again,” Silva told AFP, his voice breaking with emotion.
Although the infant remained unresponsive at first, she gradually stirred as Silva held her close. “I think she felt more cuddled and a bit warmer. It was then that she began to open her eyes… it’s surreal,” said Anderson Mendes Nunes, Silva’s partner on the garbage truck.
The pair discovered the baby while nearing the end of their collection route in the city’s northern district. They immediately handed her over to Rio’s health services, which later confirmed she was in “stable” condition.
Silva reflected on how easily the situation could have taken a tragic turn. “We usually work quickly with shovels, tossing the garbage into the truck. It could have been worse,” he said.
A father of three, Silva now hopes to adopt the baby girl. “She needs someone who will give her love, who will give her care,” he said emotionally.
For Silva, the discovery was particularly poignant, as it brought back memories of a tragic incident 18 years ago when he found a baby’s body while working.
Meanwhile, Rio police have launched an investigation to identify the child and track down whoever abandoned her, according to local media.
The story has sparked strong emotions online, with social media users divided between sympathy for the mother’s possible desperation and anger over the act of abandonment.
“I can’t imagine the desperation that led to this decision,” one user wrote on X.
“How can someone do that to their own daughter?” another wondered.
As authorities continue their investigation, the baby’s fate remains uncertain—except for one thing: she has already found an unlikely hero in a garbage collector who refused to look away.
