Perth Dad Forgets 11-Month-Old Baby in Fatal Tragedy
In an incredibly tragic event, an 11-month-old boy was found dead in a car after his father accidentally locked the vehicle, forgetting the boy inside. At 4 PM on Wednesday, the lifeless body of the child was found in a dark grey Honda Civic, the same car that was used to take the boy to his day care centre.
According to reports, the boy was reported missing when his father came to pick him up at the end of the day. He was then told that his son had not, in fact, been in the learning facility all day. The staff of Ladybugs Early Learning and Care Centre was quick to act upon finding the child, performing CPR to try to resuscitate him.
As the climate in Perth (as well as the whole country) have been climbing steadily for the past few months, it is possible that this contributed to the child's death. A peak temperature of 26C was recorded on Wednesday, the hottest day in Perth for months. A study made by the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland found that the heat levels inside a car can reach up to 40C in as little as seven minutes.
Kim Beange, general manager of Ladybugs, commented on her staff's efficiency as they kept the other children unaware of the situation while trying to save the boy. "Our staff's professionalism came to the fore and they remained vigilant throughout this time, and at no point were other children in attendance aware of the circumstances occurring," Beange told reporters.
While the police are not suspecting foul play, they are still pursuing the circumstances leading to the discovery of the body. Police spokesman, Sam Dinnison, assures the public that they are speaking with the parents in order to determine a clear picture of how this heartbreaking event occurred. They are waiting for the post mortem examination which should clarify most, if not all, of the questions regarding the unfortunate incident.
It is estimated that there are 15 to 25 similar events that occur in the U.S. yearly. For the parents and loved ones of the young boy, this regrettable statistic is a reality that they will have to live with now.