A three-year-old boy died in Riverview, Florida on Saturday after his mother accidentally left him in a parked car as temperatures soared above 38°C. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office reported that the boy's father discovered him inside the vehicle around 10:40 pm and immediately called for help. The child was rushed to a hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Investigation underway
Authorities have launched an investigation into the tragedy, though it remains unclear how long the boy was left in the car. Sheriff Crad Chronister urged parents and caregivers to prioritize hot vehicle safety, stating: 'Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle, even for a moment.' The incident occurred in Riverview, near Tampa, where temperatures that day felt even hotter than the recorded 38°C.
Similar tragedy in France
Just a day earlier, two young children, aged two and four, were found dead in their mother's car during a heatwave in southern France. The children were discovered unresponsive in the family vehicle, parked in the garage of their grandmother's home in Carpentras, Provence, around 1:10 pm on Monday. Their 33-year-old mother claimed she was 'unaware' they were inside until she found them and called for help. According to Le Parisien, the mother said she had 'forgotten her children' while shopping. She has not yet been questioned by police.
Europe, including the UK, is experiencing a record-breaking heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 40°C in parts of France. Emergency services and the military have been placed on wildfire alert across the country.
