Sydney mother posts photo of son who died after being left in hot car
Family members have spoken of their shock after a baby boy died when he was left unattended in a car in southwest Sydney. Mother Samantha Rowlands today took to social media, posting a photo with Jone and writing: “my baby”.
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A cherished picture, two words and a string of heartbreak emojis told the world of a mother’s grief at the loss of a beloved child.
Samantha Rowlands posted her cry from the heart online after returning home to find her son Jone, 23 months, had died after he was left in a hot car at Chester Hill on Sunday.
Friends said the tragedy had devastated the mother of six who shared a picture of her cuddling the little boy with the caption “My baby”.
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A close friend who saw Ms Rowlands on Monday said she was “heartbroken”.
“She’s gutted and numb, she’s heartbroken because she has lost one of her babies,” the friend said.
“She said she doesn’t know how she’s going to cope having to bury one of her sons.”
One relative, who did not want to be named, said Ms Rowlands was a devoted mother to all her children.
“She was a good mum, she was a very good mother, (Jone) will be sadly missed, but now he is up in heaven,” the relative said.
Police have been told Jone — one of twin boys who were the youngest of the children — was found alone inside the car in the front yard of the house by family members after they realised he was not in the house on the hot day.
Temperatures were upwards of 30 degrees but experts say temperatures in the car could have been up twice as high.
Paramedics rushed to the O’Hagon St home but could not save the boy and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ms Rowlands, who was away, arrived at the house in a taxi, screaming “my baby” before being embraced by relatives.
It is understood Ms Rowlands was living in the house with her mother while raising her children. Photos on Facebook show Jone laughing with his twin brother and wearing matching Batman tracksuits.
A woman believed to be Jone’s grandmother was seen being treated for shock in an ambulance after his death.
Resident Frank Ingrati, 52, said Ms Rowlands and her children had dropped into his house at Christmas to give him a hamper.
“It was very nice of them, it was really lovely. But it’s shocking news,” he said. Another neighbour said police had regularly attended the house before Sunday’s incident.
Meanwhile, the Department of Family and Community Services has been called in to assist police and a coroner with their inquiries into Jone’s death.
“FACS staff were deeply saddened to hear of the tragic death of a 23-month-old boy,” the agency said.
“Our sympathies are with this young child’s family and community at this time.”
Originally published as Sydney mother posts photo of son who died after being left in hot car
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