Cause of death of children, 2 and 4, found dead in ‘very hot car’ after mum ‘forgot’

The two children were found unresponsive in the family car parked in the garage of a property in Carpentras, France, during the 40C heatwave, with an autopsy confirming they died of dehydration

New details have emerged in the tragic deaths of two children, aged two and four, who were found unresponsive in a car during Europe’s 40C heatwave, allegedly having been “forgotten” by their mother.

The children were discovered in the family vehicle, parked in the garage of a detached house in the Bois de l’Ubac area of Carpentras, France. Despite efforts to resuscitate them by emergency services, both children sadly passed away. A manslaughter investigation has since been launched.

An autopsy has now revealed that the cause of death was dehydration, as confirmed by Hélène Mourges, the public prosecutor, to France 3 Provence-Alpes.

A statement from the Carpentras prosecutor’s office suggested that initial findings indicate “the hypothesis of a death resulting from exposure to excessive heat” seems “plausible subject to the results of further analyses currently underway”.

Early investigations have considered the possibility that the children entered the car without their 33 year old mother’s knowledge and subsequently became trapped, reports the Mirror.

A police source informed Le Parisien that the mother claimed to have “forgotten her children” while out shopping.

According to a source close to the investigation speaking to AFP, she has provided several differing accounts of the incident.

Amandine, a local resident, expressed her shock at the tragic incident. Speaking to France 3 Provence-Alpes, she said: “I’m very shocked. When I learned that it was two children who had been forgotten in the car, I got goose pimples. In this neighbourhood, everyone knows each other, and the children were always playing; they had such a zest for life.”

The police were alerted to the incident at the children’s grandmother’s property at 1.10pm on Monday (June 22). Ms Mourges previously suggested that the heatwave was the primary theory behind their deaths.

She explained that the two children “allegedly locked themselves” inside the vehicle, and it was thought they entered the car without their mother’s knowledge.

This week, millions of people across France woke up soaked in sweat following nights of intense heat. The national weather service, Meteo France, has issued a red heatwave alert as temperatures are expected to remain exceptionally high round the clock.

In a nation where air-conditioning is not widely available, schools, trains and sporting events continue to be affected, while around 20 drowning deaths have been reported since the weekend.

“Sunshine continues to dominate across France, maintaining oppressive and exhausting heat throughout the country,” stated Meteo France. These extreme conditions are predicted to persist at least until the end of the week, with daytime highs exceeding 40C in numerous towns.

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