An incident in the city of El Vendrell, Tarragona province, has shaken the local community. A seven-month-old baby boy was admitted to the intensive care unit of a hospital in Barcelona with serious injuries. Preliminary reports suggest the child was harmed by his own father.
The events unfolded in mid-October, when the baby was at home alone with his father. Upon returning, the mother found her son in an unusual state—he was lethargic and did not respond to familiar stimuli. She immediately took the child to seek medical help, where doctors discovered multiple head injuries, some of which were older and others were recent.
After examining the boy, he was hospitalized in intensive care, and medical staff initiated standard procedures on suspicion of child abuse. Police soon arrested a 42-year-old man suspected of injuring his own son. Despite the seriousness of the case, after giving testimony in court, the man was released but forbidden to approach the child or his mother.
The boy remains under medical supervision, and social services are also monitoring his situation. Child protective authorities have assumed temporary custody to ensure his safety and provide necessary support. A thorough investigation is underway to determine whether similar incidents occurred in the past and how long the child may have been at risk.
This case once again raises questions about child protection and the need for timely response to warning signs within families. Local residents and child welfare specialists have expressed concern, hoping that the investigation will help prevent similar tragedies in the future.
