Toddler found dead in car in Sydney’s inner west

A toddler has died after being mistakenly left in a car all day in what police have described as “an absolute tragedy” in Sydney’s inner west.

A toddler has died after being mistakenly left in a car all day in what police have described as “an absolute tragedy” in Sydney’s inner west.

The one-year-old girl was found dead in Earlwood about 5.35pm on Tuesday by a man - believed to be her father - who went to pick her up from daycare, only to discover she had never gotten out of the car that morning.

Another member of the public called emergency services to the childcare centre on Marana Rd, but paramedics were unable to revive the unresponsive child and declared her dead at the scene.

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.

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

“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

Supt McDonald did not confirm whether the man who had discovered the child was the girl’s father, describing him only as a “direct relative”.

While police initially said he 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.

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