Toddler dies in hot car after mum 'forgot' about him
A 23-month-old child died when his mother left him in the car all day in the heat, after she forgot to drop him off at daycare.
Last Thursday, Everett Smith's mother was supposed to drop him off at daycare on her way to work, however, she forgot to do so.
The 23-month-old was not found until later in the afternoon and it was reportedly just under 30 degrees Celsius that day in Ontario.
Ontario Provincial Police were called to the parking lot of a school in Bancroft, Canada, at around 3.45pm on Thursday, CBC News reported.
Everett was not responsive when emergency services arrived and he was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Bancroft Mayor Paul Jenkins has reportedly been friends with Everett's family for decades.
He said the mother believed she had taken him to daycare when she accidentally left him in the car when she went to work at North Hastings High School.
Everett is the youngest of two boys, having an older brother who is five years old, Mr Jenkins told the Toronto Star.
He added the family was "loving" and both the mother and father "devoted their lives to their boys".
Wayne Lord, Everett's grandfather told CTV News Toronto something stressful happened to his daughter on Wednesday and dropping her son off was not part of her routine.
On Thursday, following Everett's death, the Grade 8 graduation at North Hastings High School was postponed "due to an emergency at the school".
The Everett Smith Memorial Fund has already been established and will help children and families "experience joy".
"One look at his infectious grin and your worries would melt away. We knew his smile was meant to change the world," the memorial says.
"Tragically, Everett is no longer with us but we know that he would want to keep doing the best for his friends as he sips his milk and asks for more toppings on his toast."
There have been several incidents of children dying after remaining in a car on a hot day, including in Australia.
Earlier this month, a four-year-old girl from Iran died after her family left her in a car while they attended a funeral.
A five-year-old boy died after his mother left him in the car for three hours in Harris County, Texas, while she ran errands.
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