An Australian family are "in shock and distraught" following the death of a toddler left in a hot car.
The 22-month-old twin has been described as "a gorgeous, happy little boy".
The incident comes after several babies and children were left in hot cars in New Zealand, sparking concern from medical professionals .
A 21-year-old Tauranga woman has also been charged after leaving a baby in a car last week while his mother was allegedly in the TAB.
In Australia, the toddler was in the care of family members on Sunday, and police were told he had been left inside a car at a family home in Chester Hill. He was noticed missing, then found unresponsive about 3.30pm local time.
When emergency services arrived, the toddler was inside the home. They were unable to save him, Nine News reports.
"It’s a big shock, a very big shock, yeah," the boy’s aunt told the news outlet.
Jone was in the care of other family members at the time of the incident, but his mum was seen arriving distraught a short time after.
"Sam is a good mum she loves her kids… [I’m] heartbroken, I just can't believe this could happen," the child’s aunt told Nine.
One woman at the scene was taken away by ambulance staff, believed to have been treated for shock.
"We are all in shock and devastated with the loss of such a gorgeous happy little boy," the family said in a statement. "We are all just trying to support Sam the best we can."
In Chester Hill on Sunday temperatures reached more than 30 degrees Celsius and would have been even hotter inside the car.
Police are taking statements to try to work out how long the child may have been in the car, Nine reported.
"Children’s bodies do overheat very quickly and they can suffer major health issues and tragic consequences," Kids Safe NSW spokeswoman Christine Erskine told the station.
SHARE ME