A baby was found de@d inside a car outside a childcare centre in Sydney, Australia.
Olivia Ancelet, 1, was found unresponsive in the vehicle outside My Early Learning Centre Clemton Park on Marana Rd, Earlwood at about 5.35pm on Tuesday, Feb. 4.
While the cause of de@th is yet to be determined, NSW Police believe she was left inside the vehicle for an extended period. Temperatures in the area had neared 30C.
The baby’s parents broke their silence in a moving statement on Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 5.
“Olivia was a sweet and beautiful baby, who was the light of our lives,” the couple told news.com.au.
“We are humbled and grateful for the time we had her. We are devastated by what has unfolded.
“We do not wish this on any parent,” they said.
“We will always cherish our time with our beautiful girl. She was loved by all that knew her”.
“It is an unimaginable time of sorrow for us.
“We do not wish this on any parent”.
Roy Gomes, who lives nearby, told NewsWire he was cutting grass on Tuesday afternoon when he heard a man scream.
“My neighbour came across and he said, ‘Can you hear that screaming?’, so I turned the lawnmower off,” Mr Gomes said.
“When I got there, I saw the (man) with the baby in (his) arms and he was just panicking.
“We didn’t know what to do, (so) I said, ‘Let’s try and give her CPR, do our best.
“He was screaming, poor guy, he kept screaming saying, ‘I’ve k!lled my daughter’.”
Olivia’s father, Ettiene, earlier shared a loving social media post after his daughter reached the three-month milestone.
“I’m happy to announce that Olivia has officially passed her 3-month probation period,” Mr Ancelet wrote to Facebook, with a picture of Olivia raised up in the air.
“Despite her lack of experience, Olivia has added a youthful energy to the team.
“Her upbeat attitude has been indispensable during stressful late nights and we look forward to seeing what she can bring to the table with a little more guidance and a clean nappy.
“If you see Olivia around, be sure to say hi! Unless it’s naptime … Then be very, very quiet.”
Another post shows him holding Olivia, the pair both asleep.
“My most memorable birthday yet,” the post read.
Mr Gomes earlier said other neighbours tried to help after Olivia was found.
“All the neighbours were really good, putting water on her (and) trying to cool her down because she was obviously still very hot,” he said.
“She was just floppy.”
He said the ordeal had kept him up that night.
“I didn’t sleep much last night, just because I could see the little baby’s face all night, but it’s just something you do,” he said.
“You think you’d realise the baby’s there, but then I’m thinking … the baby’s in there hiding – if she’s asleep with a blanket, especially if they’re just not making any noise,” he said.
It has not yet been confirmed whether the girl attended Jelly Beings Early Learning Centre, though police officers were seen entering the property on Wednesday morning.
Superintendent Christine McDonald described the little girl’s de@th as “an absolute tragedy” and “a most traumatic event” when speaking to the media on Tuesday.
“The information provided to us suggests that this baby was left inside the vehicle for an extended period on a very hot day,” Superintendent McDonald said.
“Leaving a child in a vehicle at any time can be dangerous. Leaving a child inside a vehicle for an extended period of time can be deadly.”
A man, a “close relative” of the little girl, was taken to hospital in shock. Her mother is also helping the police.
A crime scene was established while an investigation was launched.
Superintendent McDonald said all lines of inquiry were being investigated by detectives.
She said it was still not known when the baby was left in the car.
“The timeline of events – we need to seek that information from people that we’re currently speaking to or waiting to speak to,” she said.
NSW Ambulance paramedics attended but the little girl d!ed at the scene.
A male occupant of the vehicle – believed to be related to the child – is assisting police with their inquiries.
