Two young boys have tragically died after allegedly being left inside a car 'to sleep' on the holiday island of Cyprus. The children, aged eight and 10, were discovered dead in a vehicle parked in a field close to a residential area in the British base of Dhekelia, according to the Cyprus Mail.
Incident Details
Officers from the British bases were called to the scene in Dhekelia, a Sovereign Base Area (SBA) in Cyprus. The local publication reports that the boys were allegedly left in the car to sleep. Medical professionals confirmed that the children, who were of Bulgarian origin, had suffered severe muscle stiffness and burns as a result of sun exposure.
The children's father and stepmother have since been arrested on suspicion of negligence in connection with the deaths, reports the Mirror.
Investigation Underway
A spokesperson for the British bases confirmed that officers were conducting investigations at a property in Xylophagou in the Famagusta district to establish the cause of death. While the exact cause of death is yet to be confirmed, local media reports that the children's bodies displayed signs consistent with asphyxiation. Forensic examinations are now underway to determine precisely how the boys died.
Heatwave Context
The devastating tragedy comes amid a period of soaring temperatures across Europe, with record-breaking heat recorded across the continent. In total, four similar incidents have been reported across Europe over the past week during the ongoing heatwave.
A baby of 18 months lost his life in France after being left unattended in a car by his parents. He passed away at La Timone Hospital in Marseille on Tuesday, following the discovery by firefighters of the infant in a vehicle in the car park of a university medical campus. He was found unconscious and suffering from hyperthermia brought on by the sweltering conditions inside the car.
A separate tragedy in France claimed the lives of two children after their mother left them in a locked vehicle. The mother, aged 33, now faces manslaughter charges following the discovery of her four-year-old daughter and two-year-old son dead in the back seat of the parked car.
