Twin babies fighting for lives

Twin baby boys were fighting for their lives in Starship last night after they were rushed to the hospital with head injuries that police are investigating.

One of the babies was taken off life support early yesterday morning and was last night in his father's arms. A service for him was held at the hospital late last night.

The 3-month-old babies, Chris and Cru Kahui from Mangere, were taken to Middlemore Hospital by family members last Tuesday.

They were immediately transferred to Starship because of the severity of their head injuries. One of the twins also has a broken femur.

Last night, Chris was still in a critical condition and Cru was not expected to live after being taken off life support. The babies' maternal grandfather said last night, with tears running down his face: "We're waiting for him to go to sleep."

Detective Senior Sergeant John Tims, who heads the Counties Manukau child abuse team, said they were still investigating how the babies had been injured and he was keeping in constant contact with the hospital over their condition.

Family members were included in the investigation but police would wait for expert medical opinion before deciding if charges would be laid.

The grandparents said two older children are now in care with Child Youth and Family (CYF) and they were working through lawyers to have them returned. A CYF spokeswoman said last night the department was working with the family to ensure the safety of all four children. CYF had not been involved with the family before the twins' admission to hospital.

Born prematurely, tiny Chris and Cru spent the first six weeks of their lives in the neo-natal intensive care unit at Kidzfirst. Yesterday the boys' grandfather said he thought the babies had left the hospital too early.

The large whanau was last night at the hospital as the twins fought for their lives. A family spokesperson said they were under legal advice not to comment to the media but the babies' uncle said the boys were doing "as well as could be expected".

Mr Timms said yesterday it was too early to determine how the babies' head injuries, or the broken femur, occurred. They had no other bruises or abrasions to their bodies.

South Auckland's child abuse team deals with cases of physical and sexual abuse of children aged 16 and under. Mr Timms said the team saw a wide range of injuries to children but this particular case was unusual because it involved twins.

Starship hospital staff yesterday told the Herald on Sunday the case was "a matter for the police".

"There are legal issues around this one."

Children's Commissioner Cindy Kiro said she spoke regularly with pediatricians and CYF social workers.

"I know they are absolutely fed up with cases of child abuse coming through their door. They want New Zealanders to basically wake up."