Tragic Incident in Alsace: A Child Forgotten in a Car
A tragic event unfolded in Sausheim, Alsace, close to the German border, on Tuesday (May 28th). A 16-month-old toddler passed away after being left unattended in a parked vehicle while his father went to work. The distressing details were confirmed by the public prosecutor's office in Mulhouse on Wednesday.
Parents Unwittingly Trapped in 'Forgotten Baby Syndrome'
The father was supposed to drop his young son at daycare but drove straight to his workplace instead. The child remained in the car the entire day, unnoticed amidst soaring temperatures. It wasn't until the mother went to the crèche to pick up their son that the dreadful error was discovered. She alerted her husband, but tragically, it was already too late.
Recurrent Issue: Forgotten Baby Syndrome
This heartbreaking incident is not an isolated one. Researchers have identified this phenomenon as 'forgotten baby syndrome,' wherein parents unintentionally forget their child's presence in the vehicle. Stress, fatigue, and a break in routine are often significant contributing factors, according to American psychology professor David M. Diamond. While these episodes are generally rare, they are a recurring concern with potentially fatal outcomes.
The local newspaper Les Dernières Nouvelles d'Alsace reported that temperatures outside reached 22 degrees Celsius (72°F) on the day of the incident. Within the car, temperatures likely soared to around 47 degrees Celsius (116°F). Initial assessments suggest hyperthermia as the cause of death, and an autopsy has been scheduled in Strasbourg to confirm this. Both parents, especially the father, are receiving psychological support after being hospitalized in shock.
- Similar tragic events have been documented in recent years. In 2021, a father in Croatia forgot his five-year-old child in the car, leading to the child's death. In Bavaria in 2022, a baby was fortuitously found locked in a car with no account of the parent.
- The phenomenon of 'forgotten baby syndrome' appears to be on the rise. A study from Italy in 2020 showed an increase in such incidents, emphasizing that the parents involved often have perfectly functional psychological and cognitive faculties.
- The public prosecutor of Mulhouse, Edwige Roux-Morizot, has initiated an investigation to confirm the precise causes of death. The Mulhouse gendarmerie company's research brigade is tasked with the investigation, which will include the autopsy results from Strasbourg.
