Toddler found next to dead mother, survives five days on Easter eggs

Melbourne: A two-year Australian toddler spent up to five days alone at home next to her dead mother's body probably surviving on Easter chocolate eggs. The child was discovered severely dehydrated on Friday after neighbours became suspicious and raised an alarm in Wagga Wagga, 400 kilometres southwest of Sydney.

The police, who broke into the tragic scene to discover the body of a 33-year-old woman in her house, said: "the child was in a serious condition and suffering from dehydration after being forced to fend for herself for what could have been upto five days."

The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Riverina police inspector Eamonn Purcell as saying, "It was not long after Easter and so the child probably survived on some chocolate eggs left over,".

The woman was believed to be dead when her neighbours knocked to check on her whereabouts. Finding no response, the neighbour contacted the local church and brought the pastor to gain access to the house to find the mother and the toddler.

Police rushed the baby to the nearby hospital where she was put in emergency.