A 10-year-old boy who died after accidentally trapping himself in the boot of a car during a game of hide-and-seek in Victoria’s north has been remembered as a “shining star” with an “infectious smile”.
A neighbour, who did not want to be named, told The Age that the boy, named Bentley, died after climbing into his mother’s car at their home in Mooroopna, just west of Shepparton, on Sunday afternoon.
A collage of photos of Bentley, who died in a game of hide-and-seek near Shepparton on Sunday.
The neighbour said Bentley took his mother’s car keys and entered the car, but became stuck in the boot, which had no manual boot release.
Bentley’s aunt, Steph Sutton, wrote on social media: “Your laughter contagious, and your sense of uncanny adventure is courageous.
“I promise you that no matter what, people will always remember you.
“The loss of Bentley has been nothing short of a tragedy.”
Lainey Sutton, another of Bentley’s aunts, created a GoFundMe page on behalf of the family and wrote that “in a tragic game of hide-and-seek, our world stopped”.
“December 15th will forever be the day that we pause for a moment to remember our inquisitive, car-loving, Minecraft enthusiastic, neurodiverse 10-year-old Bentley,” she wrote.
“As a family, our hearts are broken as we try to find some sense in a place that no longer feels whole.”
Lainey Sutton said Bentley’s death came shortly after that of his grandmother’s, and the family was struggling with the emotional and financial toll. At midday on Tuesday, the GoFundMe page had raised more than $5500 of its $20,000 goal.
On Monday, police said they would prepare a report for the coroner and that the death was believed to be not suspicious. The circumstances surrounding the death were still being established, police said.
In 2023, RACV Emergency Roadside Assistance patrols received 664 calls to help rescue children accidentally locked in vehicles. According to the RACV, the interiors of vehicles can reach 70 degrees in a few minutes when the outside temperature is 30 degrees.
The temperature in Shepparton peaked at 35.3 degrees on Sunday.
Ambulance Victoria said paramedics responded to an incident in Mooroopna about 3.20pm on Sunday.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.