Two young boys have tragically died after they were allegedly left inside a car to sleep on the holiday island of Cyprus. The boys, aged eight and 10, were discovered dead inside the vehicle, which had been parked in a field near a residential area in the British base of Dhekelia, according to the Cyprus Mail.
Incident Details
Police from the British bases attended the scene. Local media reports that the boys were allegedly left in the car to sleep. The children, of Bulgarian origin, suffered extreme muscle stiffness and burns from sun exposure, according to medical professionals.
Officers arrested the children's father and stepmother on suspicion of negligence in connection with the deaths, reports the Mirror. A British bases spokesperson confirmed that officers were at a property in Xylophagou in the Famagusta district conducting investigations into the cause of the deaths.
Forensic Examination
The precise cause of death has yet to be confirmed, however local media reports that the bodies of the children displayed signs consistent with asphyxiation. Forensic examinations to establish the exact cause of death will now be undertaken.
Heatwave Context
The tragedy comes amid a period of soaring temperatures across parts of Europe, with record-breaking heat recorded across the continent. Four similar incidents have occurred across Europe over the past week during the ongoing heatwave.
An 18-month-old infant tragically lost his life in France after being left unattended in a car by his parents. He passed away at La Timone Hospital in Marseille on Tuesday, after firefighters discovered him in the vehicle in the car park of a university medical campus. He was found unconscious and suffering from hyperthermia as a result of the intense heat inside the car.
A separate incident in France saw two children die after being left in a locked car by their mother. The 33-year-old woman now faces manslaughter charges after her four-year-old daughter and two-year-old son were found dead on the back seat of the parked vehicle.
