Six young children were rescued from a car after being trapped inside, with windows rolled up, for five hours on a hot summer’s day.
The car was left in an open-air parking lot near Spargs Fuel station in Madeira Street, Mthatha on Sunday as mercury levels rose to 34°C.
The young victims, believed to be between the ages of four and 11, banged against the windows of the car and finally caught the attention of a passerby, who immediately called for help.
Locals responded and there were frantic attempts to rescue the children, who seemed dazed with bloodshot eyes.
However, they were unable to open the windows or doors of the Renault Megane. Police were eventually called to the scene and the right rear passenger window smashed to free the children.
Once outside the car, the dehydrated children were undressed and given water to drink. Cold water was also thrown over their bodies to cool them down
When the driver eventually returned, he allegedly tried to hide from the more than 100 people who had gathered at the car. He was exposed when one of the children yelled, “nanku’ Tata” (there is father).
Police intervened as the angry group went for the man, believed to be in his 40s. He was thrown in the back of the van.
The owner of the car was whisked away in the van and a police officer took the children.
Mthatha police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela could not confirm if any charges had been brought against the driver at the time of going to print.
Petrol attendant Sivuyile Maqabuka described the scene as a “painful sight”.
“The kids were soaking wet from sweating. Their eyes were red and had a look of fear. They were knocking on the windows but their knocks were very weak. Some of them were moving their lips but they were inaudible,” he said.
Another eyewitness, 62-year-old Bawo Qayiso, was among those who called the police.
“People were screaming ‘here are children dying in the car’. This car was parked there for over five hours. If they were unnoticed, surely they would have suffocated to death,” said Qayiso.
East London-based Alderson Ambulance paramedic Chris Cokayne said children and animals could be exposed to severe heat exhaustion if locked in car, which could be fatal.
Cokayne, who is a parent, said he would never leave his own children inside a locked car. In summer, the danger of suffocation was “incredibly high” between 9am and 4pm, he cautioned.
“The biggest problem is that there is no ventilation inside the car and the temperature is going to sky rocket. Just rolling the window down isn’t good enough. Children should not be kept in a car unattended, qha. End of story,” he said.
Outrage over kids' car ordeal
The car was left in an open-air parking lot near Spargs Fuel station in Madeira Street, Mthatha on Sunday as mercury levels rose to 34°C.
The young victims, believed to be between the ages of four and 11, banged against the windows of the car and finally caught the attention of a passerby, who immediately called for help.
Locals responded and there were frantic attempts to rescue the children, who seemed dazed with bloodshot eyes.
However, they were unable to open the windows or doors of the Renault Megane. Police were eventually called to the scene and the right rear passenger window smashed to free the children.
Once outside the car, the dehydrated children were undressed and given water to drink. Cold water was also thrown over their bodies to cool them down
When the driver eventually returned, he allegedly tried to hide from the more than 100 people who had gathered at the car. He was exposed when one of the children yelled, “nanku’ Tata” (there is father).
Police intervened as the angry group went for the man, believed to be in his 40s. He was thrown in the back of the van.
The owner of the car was whisked away in the van and a police officer took the children.
Mthatha police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela could not confirm if any charges had been brought against the driver at the time of going to print.
Petrol attendant Sivuyile Maqabuka described the scene as a “painful sight”.
“The kids were soaking wet from sweating. Their eyes were red and had a look of fear. They were knocking on the windows but their knocks were very weak. Some of them were moving their lips but they were inaudible,” he said.
Another eyewitness, 62-year-old Bawo Qayiso, was among those who called the police.
“People were screaming ‘here are children dying in the car’. This car was parked there for over five hours. If they were unnoticed, surely they would have suffocated to death,” said Qayiso.
East London-based Alderson Ambulance paramedic Chris Cokayne said children and animals could be exposed to severe heat exhaustion if locked in car, which could be fatal.
Cokayne, who is a parent, said he would never leave his own children inside a locked car. In summer, the danger of suffocation was “incredibly high” between 9am and 4pm, he cautioned.
“The biggest problem is that there is no ventilation inside the car and the temperature is going to sky rocket. Just rolling the window down isn’t good enough. Children should not be kept in a car unattended, qha. End of story,” he said.
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