Warning: This article contains discussion of child death which some readers may find distressing
The parents of a one-year-old girl have spoken out following the tragic death of their daughter, who was left in a car throughout the day.
As temperatures in Australia reached 86°F, little Olivia Ancelet was left inside a sweltering car after her father forgot she was in the back seat.
Etienne Ancelet discovered the heartbreaking oversight when he drove to her daycare in Earlwood, a Sydney suburb, to pick her up at 5:35pm on February 4.
Her parents, Etienne and his partner, Kim Visconti, have now expressed their grief and paid tribute to their daughter, who had just celebrated her first birthday in December.
In an interview with news.com.au, they stated: “Olivia was a sweet and beautiful baby, who was the light of our lives.
“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.”
The parents continued: “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.”
Authorities are currently investigating to determine exactly how Olivia passed away.
It is believed that Etienne placed her in the car to take her to daycare, and under the impression he had dropped her off, returned to the vehicle later only to find his daughter still inside.
A nearby resident, Roy Gomes, told NewsWire that he was mowing his lawn when he heard a man’s distressing screams.
Gomes recounted to the outlet: “When I go 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 killed my daughter’.”
“All the neighbours were really good, putting water on her (and) trying to cool her down, because she was obviously still very hot,” he added.
“She was just floppy. 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.”
Emergency services rushed to the location, but tragically, the young girl was pronounced dead at the scene.
New South Wales Police Superintendent Christine McDonald addressed the media, stating: “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.
“This is an absolute tragedy.”
During the press conference, it was also disclosed that a man, identified as a ‘close relative’ of the child, was taken to the hospital in shock.
The exact time when the baby was left in the car remains unclear.
If you are dealing with a loss and need someone to talk to, The Compassionate Friends can be reached at (877) 969-0010 for confidential support.