20-month-old girl dies after being forgotten in car near Stuttgart; police launch investigation amid 28°C heat
A 44-year-old mother forgot her 20-month-old daughter in a parked car for several hours as temperatures outside reached 28°C in Schorndorf, near Stuttgart. The child could not be revived, and an autopsy has been ordered.
Incident discovery
A 20-month-old girl was found lifeless in a car parked in front of a climbing hall in Schorndorf, roughly 30 km from Stuttgart, on Wednesday afternoon. Her 44-year-old mother had apparently left the child in the vehicle for several hours before returning to discover her. Outside temperatures climbed to 28°C during the midday heat, and the German Weather Service had issued a heat warning for the region.
Emergency response
Emergency services, including a notary physician and the German Red Cross, attempted to resuscitate the child after she was freed from the car but were unsuccessful.
Crisis intervention counsellors were also deployed to the scene.She could not be revived.
Investigation and autopsy
The Aalen police department confirmed that initial findings indicate the mother forgot the child. The criminal police and the state prosecutor's office have opened an investigation, and an autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death. Witnesses were questioned at the parking lot.
Heat factor
A heat warning was in effect for the Schorndorf area, where temperatures reached 28°C in the afternoon. Under such conditions the interior of a stationary car can become lethally hot within minutes.
