Two boys have died after allegedly being left to sleep in a car on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. The children, aged eight and 10, were discovered lifeless inside the vehicle, which had been parked in a field near a residential area in the British base of Dhekelia.
Details of the Incident
According to the Cyprus Mail, police from the British bases responded to the scene. The boys, of Bulgarian descent, were purportedly left in the car to sleep. Medical professionals reported that the children suffered severe muscle rigidity and sunburn. Police have detained the children's father and stepmother on suspicion of alleged negligence relating to the deaths, as reported by the Mirror.
Investigation Underway
A spokesperson for the British bases stated that officers are currently conducting investigations into the cause of the deaths at a property in Xylophagou in the Famagusta district. While the precise cause of death remains unconfirmed, local media suggest that the bodies of the children displayed signs indicative of suffocation. Forensic examinations will now be undertaken to establish the exact cause.
Heatwave Across Europe
The tragedy coincides with a surge in temperatures across parts of Europe, with record-breaking heat recorded. Across the continent, four similar incidents have occurred over the past week during periods of the heatwave. An 18-month-old toddler tragically lost his life in France after his parents left him in a car. The child passed away at La Timone Hospital in Marseille on Tuesday, following the discovery of him in the vehicle parked at a university medical campus by firefighters. He was found unconscious and suffering from hyperthermia due to the intense heat inside the car.
In another heartbreaking incident in France, two children died after being left in a locked car by their mother. The 33-year-old mum now faces manslaughter charges after her four-year-old daughter and two-year-old son were discovered deceased in the back seat of the parked car.
