CCTV footage has captured the moment an 18-month-old toddler apparently broke free from a nursery in Brazil and walked alone to his mother's workplace.
The toddler was seen wandering along a street in Braço do Norte, Brazil, entirely on his own. At one point, he tried to climb onto the pavement, fell, then picked himself up and continued his journey.
Remarkably, the child covered around 50m (55yd) to reach his mother's workplace. The footage shows him arriving at the building and banging on the glass door, desperate to get inside. A receptionist noticed the toddler and, after glancing around, realised no adult was with him.
Reunited with his mother
The receptionist immediately picked him up, carried him indoors, and reunited him with his shocked mother, according to NeedToKnow.
The mother said she had left him at the nursery at approximately 7.20am. She claimed he managed to slip away shortly after 8.45am. She explained: "They were in the playground and the playground is close to the entrance." The nursery was undergoing refurbishment work at the time, and the mother said its gate was broken.
Investigation launched
Local reports said vehicles were travelling along a nearby road as the toddler made his way to his mother's workplace. The child has since been transferred to a different nursery.
Police launched an investigation on Monday to determine how the 18-month-old managed to leave unattended and whether any charges should be filed. The local education department has also opened its own probe.
Local official Joana Silva Lessa stated in a release: "The department is taking the appropriate measures and confirms that all relevant administrative and legal action will be taken."
