Injured toddler transferred to Starship Hospital after Otautau incident

A toddler who sustained traumatic brain injuries in Otautau is being treated in critical condition at Starship Hospital in Auckland. The child was transferred from Southland Hospital to the Auckland facility on Monday. Medical sources indicate the child is unlikely to survive.

Two 19-year-olds, a man and a woman, appeared in the Invercargill District Court on Monday. They have been jointly charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The court heard the alleged injuries occurred between 28 August and 28 September in Otautau.

The defendants have been granted interim name suppression and remanded in custody. A bail application hearing is scheduled to take place on or before 6 October.

Police were called to a property on the western edge of Otautau at 6.50pm on Sunday. Detectives and forensic staff were at the scene from Sunday night, and neighbours reported seeing police searching the area around the house with torches.

How it developed

• Tue 22 Sep, 5:56pmThe child was transferred from Southland Hospital to Starship Hospital in Auckland on Monday.

Where reports differ

• One report identifies the victim as a child, while another specifies the victim is a toddler.

Compiled from reports by The Press and Stuff.