Toddler found dead in car in Sydney’s inner west

The baby girl who tragically died after she was left in a hot car on Tuesday, after mistakenly not being dropped at her daycare centre, has been identified.

The parents of baby girl who died after she was left in a hot car outside a Sydney daycare centre have paid a touching tribute to their “sweet and beautiful baby”.

One-year-old Olivia Ancelet was found unresponsive in her family’s vehicle outside Jelly Beings Early Learning Centre in Earlwood just after 5.30pm on Tuesday.

The day after the tragedy, her heartbroken parents Etienne Ancelet and Kim Visconti said they were “devastated” and still trying to come to terms with what happened.

“Olivia was a sweet and beautiful baby, who was the light of our lives,” a statement to news.com.au, provided by the mother, said.

“We are humbled and grateful for the time we had her. We are devastated by what has unfolded.

“We do not wish this on any parent.

“We will always cherish our time with our beautiful girl. She was loved by all that knew her.

“It is an unimaginable time of sorrow for us.”

Little Olivia turned one on December 3, with her parents posting pictures of her celebrating with a birthday cake.

When she was three-months-old her father Etienne made a touching post about his first child on Facebook.

“I’m happy to announce that Olivia has officially passed her 3 month probation period,” he wrote.

Baby Olivia Ancelet turned one in December.

“Despite her lack of experience, Olivia has added a youthful energy to the team.

“Her upbeat attitude has been indispensable during stressful late nights and we look forward to seeing what she can bring to the table with a little more guidance and a clean nappy.”

Last April, Mr Ancelet posted a picture of himself and Olivia on his birthday, saying it was his best year yet.

Baby Olivia with her dad.

Baby Olivia.

Police investigation begins

On Tuesday, Mr Ancelet was heard yelling “I killed my daughter” in the moments after discovering his daughter had been mistakenly left in the back seat of his car.

Roy Gomes, who lives up the road from the childcare centre in Earlwood, was mowing his lawn when he heard screaming from down the street.

“I ran over and he was holding the baby,” Mr Gomes said.

“We took the baby off (him) and we tried CPR for about five minutes.”

He said the ambulance arrived to assist within minutes.

Neighbour Roy Gomes at Earlwood on Tuesday.

Police at the scene outside the childcare centre in Earlwood. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Mr Gomes said he believed the child had been accidentally left in the car all day.

“So the baby’s … been in the car all day, and then he’s parked in front of (the daycare),” he claimed.

“He’s got out to get the baby and they’ve said she didn’t come in today.”

And then “the penny has dropped that the baby is still in the car”.

“It’s just shattering,” he said.

After the horrific incident, Mr Gomes said he “didn’t sleep much last night”.

“I could see the little baby’s face all night,” he said.

“It’s just something you do … all the neighbours were really good, they were pouring water on her … but there was no life.”

Forensic officers on the scene on Tuesday afternoon. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Police on Tuesday said Olivia’s father drove to multiple locations before returning home for several hours.

It wasn’t until the afternoon, when he arrived at the childcare centre for pick-up, that a worker informed him the Olivia had never been dropped off that morning.

Upon checking the car, Mr Ancelet and childcare worker made the tragic discovery.

Speaking at a press conference at the scene on Tuesday night, Superintendent Christine McDonald said while detectives were still piecing together a timeline of events and the cause of death was unknown, police believed the child had been “left inside the vehicle for an extended period of time on a very hot day here in Sydney”.

“Leaving a child in a vehicle at any time can be dangerous,” she said.

“Leaving a child inside a vehicle for an extended period of time can be deadly.

“This is an absolute tragedy.”

Police have taped off most of the street. Picture: Jonathan Ng

While police initially said Mr Ancelet was “assisting with inquiries at Burwood Police Station”, Supt McDonald said he had been taken to hospital suffering from shock.

The child’s mother was also “assisting with inquiries” as police investigate the death on behalf of the coroner.

Supt McDonald said it was impossible to imagine how the child’s parents were feeling.

Police have taped off most of the street. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“No doubt the parents will be extremely upset,” she said.

“It’s something that affects the wider community as well … This has a rippling effect right throughout our community because so many of us can put ourselves in a similar situation.”

Police had earlier taped off most of the street, erecting a tent out the front of the childcare centre as detectives and uniformed officers combed through the scene.

A forensics van arrived just before 8pm to join three cop cars already at the scene.

Flowers laid where the child was found. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Early Wednesday morning, a woman was seen laying flowers outside the centre as detectives were allowed inside to speak with staff.

A staff member at the daycare centre did not answer questions from the media, however, she said the centre “has nothing to do with this”.

The Daily Telegraph has contacted the daycare centre for comment however, no statement has been made.

The death comes just two days after the second anniversary of the death of Arikh Hasan, who was left in a car for six hours on a 35C day.

The three-year-old’s father mistakenly thought he had dropped the boy off at daycare in Glenfield, in southwest Sydney, before driving to work that day.

Originally published as Toddler found dead in car in Sydney’s inner west