Authorities in France have urged parents and carers to take extra care during the current heatwave after two children, aged two and four, were found dead in a parked car. The incident occurred on Monday (June 22) in Carpentras, in southern France, where temperatures were close to 40°C as much of Europe experienced extreme heat.
The boys were discovered unresponsive in the family car, which was parked in direct sunlight outside their home in the Bois de l’Ubac area. Emergency services were called, but both children were pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Mirror. A manslaughter investigation has since been launched, with post-mortem examinations confirming the boys died from dehydration.
Investigation and conflicting accounts
Public prosecutor Hélène Mourges revealed that initial enquiries have focused on the theory that the children had climbed into the car unbeknownst to their 33-year-old mother, before becoming trapped inside. Reports suggest the mother told police she had "forgotten her children" while out shopping, with the woman allegedly providing officers with several conflicting accounts of events.
A neighbour described getting "goosebumps" upon learning of the devastating tragedy, adding that the children had "such a zest for life". Carpentras mayor Hervé de Lépinau has now called on parents to exercise additional vigilance when supervising their children throughout the heatwave, describing himself as "stunned by this tragedy".
Mayor's warning and heatwave records
Speaking to ici.fr, Mayor de Lépinau stated: "During these periods of extreme heat, parents and grandparents [must] be extra vigilant in supervising young children. Cars, swimming pools and unshaded outdoor areas are all zones of deadly danger with these high temperatures." Throughout France, 72 out of 101 departments were issued with a red heat alert as the nation experienced its hottest day on record on Tuesday. The mercury hit 44.3°C in Pissos, Landes, in the country's southwest.
