A boy found dead in the trunk of a car in regional Victoria was attending a traditional Christmas gathering with his family at a friend’s house.
It is understood that the 10-year-old boy has He took the keys and got into the trunk of the car parked on Gange Street in Mooroopna, 180 kilometers north of Melbourneat 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.
The owner of that house, who did not want to be identified, told Daily Mail Australia that her family had regularly met with her friend’s family at her home.
On Monday, the Gange Street property still resembled a playground, with swings, slides and a playhouse among a treasure trove of play equipment visible in the front yard.
Two little children were still playing in the yard where just a day before their little companion had tragically died.
The woman said her friend was too distraught to talk about what happened and had asked to be left alone.
He declined to speculate whether the boy became trapped in the trunk while playing hide-and-seek with his children.
‘Yeah, well, it’s not something I can talk about. He told me not to say anything,’ the woman said.
The Gange Street house was still full of children’s games on Monday.
‘I’m trying to respect her. It was simply a tragic accident. It’s just horrible.’
Although she was nauseated when speaking, the woman said it was important for people to know that her friend had done nothing wrong.
‘If it were my son, I would speak. “I would tell them what I know because I would hate for anyone to think the worst of someone who is doing the best they can for their child,” she said.
‘It was a strange accident. It was the worst… the weather didn’t help.
Temperatures soared to 35°C in the region on Sunday and reached 40°C on Monday.
Victoria Police have confirmed the incident is being treated as nothing more than a tragic accident, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
The woman said she would now be forever haunted by the once-idyllic view of the playground.
‘This is my house. “It happened here and now I have to see this horrible scene every day in my head, that’s the worst part,” he said.
The woman said it was not unusual for her friend to visit her home on weekends.
“It’s what we always do,” he said.
The front yard of the house was still full of children’s games.
It is understood the girl’s mother was resting when she later discovered her keys were missing.
He went to the car and discovered the boy had died of cardiac arrest after being trapped for “a few hours,” police said. Herald of the sun reported.
The boy had a great interest in cars.
A resident said he heard screams coming from the street and ran to help.
‘Don’t go there,’ another neighbor told them.
A second resident said they were told the child had been in the trunk for “a few hours.”
Another local described the scene as “very sad.”
“Kids in cars are not a good combination,” they said.
An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said the boy likely died from a cardiac event.