Father put baby in fridge after leaving her in hot car

Michael Thedford has been charged with manslaughter in the death of his 6-month-old daughter. Photo / AP

A north-Texas father who left his child in a hot car panicked and put her in a fridge in an effort to revive her, CBSDFW reports.

Michael Thedford's six-month-old daughter died after he left the girl strapped in the family mini-van following a school run.

Thedford said when he went outside and found the baby not moving, he immediately took her indoors and put her in the refrigerator, with the door open. He then called his wife and emergency services, and attempted CPR.

Fabiola Contreras, a neighbour, said Thedford and the child's mother were in tears.

"Forgetting a child? His child? It's hard to believe because how can you forget a child in your own car? It's your child," she said.

"It's really hot especially if you're in a car, it's way hotter."

Contreras said she watched from her porch as paramedics and Collin County sheriff's deputies arrived.

"They were asking the mother a few questions and she looked like she was crying. She was devastated. So was he, he would hug her and cry as well," she said.

Captain Jim Moody of the Collin County Sheriff's Department said deputies were called about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday to the family home in Melissa, about 65km north of Dallas. They arrived to find the child removed from the car but unresponsive.

Thedford has been charged with manslaughter.

- nzherald.co.nz