Sharjah - The car was left open, and the toddler managed to sneak into the vehicle.
Published: Sun 30 Jun 2019, 3:01 PM
Updated: Mon 1 Jul 2019, 9:26 AM
A two-year-old Arab boy is fighting for his life in Sharjah, after being trapped inside his father's car on Friday.
Parked at the yard of the family's home, the car was left open, and the toddler managed to sneak into the vehicle while his father was away, the initial investigation showed.
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Police said the father went to the mosque for the Juma prayer and, when he came back, he realised that the boy wasn't around. He searched the house until he found the toddler unconscious in the back seat of the car.
The parents rushed the boy to Al Qasimi hospital, where he is currently in critical condition.
According to a hospital staff member, the boy developed complications after suffering from suffocation inside the car. He was provided with all necessary treatment, but he remained under close supervision.
The Wasit police station launched an investigation to determine if there was negligence involved.
The Sharjah Police reiterated their child safety warning and reminded parents not to leave children inside cars, especially during the hot summer weather.
"Children are unaware of the hazards and the risks surrounding them. It is, therefore, the responsibility of the parents to ensure their child's safety," said Col Sami Al Naqbi, director-general of the Sharjah Police.
Several cases of children being left in cars have been reported in recent years, and many of them can be attributed to negligence, he said.
He said the civil defence, in coordination with the Sharjah Police, has launched plans to prevent such incidents.
Dr Brig Khalifa Kalender, director of the Sharjah Police stations, said authorities have rolled out awareness drives on child safety measures.
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com