Rotorua baby left in parked car prompts 111 call and emergency response

Police were called to Eruera St in Rotorua after reports a baby was left in a hot car alone.

Emergency services were called after a baby was left in a car on Rotorua’s Eruera St unattended.

A woman, who didn’t want her name published, said she arrived on Eruera St just before midday today to buy sushi and parked next to a vehicle.

She said she saw what she thought was a doll in a rear car seat in a car beside her.

She said she didn’t think it was a real child, given the car’s windows were closed and no adults were around.

She said there was a wait of about 15 minutes while her husband went inside to get their sushi. She remained in their car with their toddler.

“We had to turn the car on after a couple of minutes and put the air conditioning on because it was so hot,” she said.

When her husband returned, he was alarmed when he saw the baby in the rear of the car beside them.

The woman said she immediately realised it was in fact a real child, estimated to be aged between 12 to 18 months, so she called 111.

They tried to open the car doors but couldn’t.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand and police arrived within an estimated five minutes and got into the car just as the baby’s mother emerged from a nearby business, asking what everyone was doing around her car.

The woman who called 111 said the baby was asleep in the car, but started to cry later when taken from the car. She said there was sweat down the baby’s back, and the child seemed floppy.

The woman said the mother told them her child was teething, which was why she was red and appeared to be hot.

A police spokeswoman told the Rotorua Daily Post police spoke to a woman at the scene regarding reports a child was left alone. The spokeswoman said the child was medically checked and no further action was being taken.

However, she said police would put through a “Report of Concern” to Oranga Tamariki.

“Police are reminding motorists never to leave children in parked vehicles – no matter where or how the vehicle is parked and not even for five minutes. No matter what time of year."

A Hato Hone St John spokeswoman said the service was notified of an incident, and one ambulance responded.

The spokeswoman said the patient was assessed as being in a “minor” condition and was treated at the scene.

The woman who called 111 told the Rotorua Daily Post she wasn’t usually upset by much, but the incident had left her feeling anxious and concerned for the child’s ongoing welfare.

“I’m still shaking. It was just awful ... The SPCA can bring animal welfare charges if a dog is left in a car but what is the difference between a child and a dog?”

Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.