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Parents and caregivers have been warned about the dangers of leaving children and pets in locked cars. Video / NZ Herald
NOW PLAYING • Focus: Parents and caregivers warned about the danger of leaving children and pets in hot cars
Parents and caregivers have been warned about the dangers of leaving children and pets in locked cars. Video / NZ Herald ...
A mum has relived the heartbreaking moment her child became trapped in a car after its lockout protection system failed, in a bid to warn others of the hidden danger.
Chloe Stewart recently took to Facebook to explain how her car had self-locked with the safety key inside her car, resulting in police needing to smash a window to free her baby.
Recalling the harrowing incident, Stewart, from Queensland, said she had been at the doctor with her eight-month-old twins, Joseph and Audrey, on January 14.
Stewart's eight-month-old twins Joseph (pictured left) and Audrey (pictured right). Photo / Facebook / Chloe Stewart
After returning to the car, which was parked uncovered in a shopping centre carpark, the mum said she did what she had always done and placed her purse containing her smart key on the front seat and closed the door.
Stewart said she called the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) straight away; however, they weren't able to confirm an arrival time.
She also reportedly contacted the car manufacturer and was told to phone emergency services as there was "nothing they could do".
When police arrived on the scene, they used a sledgehammer to smash the window and free the trapped child. Photo / Facebook / Chloe Stewart
"We called the emergency number and police were dispatched. In the meantime, Nic ( Stewart's wife) obtained assistance from a passing tradie who gave her a hammer which failed to break the window or successfully pry open the window or door," Ms Stewart said.
"At this stage, I was in tears and feeling helpless as Joseph was clearly getting more distressed with each passing second.
"After 15 minutes, the police arrived and smashed in the window with a sledgehammer of some sort and freed Joseph from the car."
As soon as Stewart's baby was released from the car, she said she held him closely to comfort him while a police officer poured water on his head in an attempt to cool him down.
"We feel incredibly lucky that he was otherwise unharmed by the ordeal. "My initial reaction was one of guilt so I was greatly relieved that no harm had fallen upon my hands," she said.
The mum-of-two said although she is currently in discussion with the car manufacturer over the locking mechanism, she remains grateful the situation wasn't worse.
"We were the lucky ones – Joseph is still with us and unharmed," she said.
Ms Stewart said although the ordeal was harrowing, she was grateful the outcome wasn't far worse. Photo / Facebook / Chloe Stewart
"I fear that If the day had been slightly hotter, we didn't have onlookers who offered assistance, or perhaps the police didn't get there in time – this would have been a very different post.
