A two-year-old boy was rescued in Bogota, Colombiaafter being locked up without supervision in a parked car for more than seven hours.
The incident occurred on Wednesday November 12when the residents of the town of Martyrsin the sector of The Favoritethey alerted the authorities.
The community called the authorities after hearing persistent crying and hitting coming from inside the car, which had been parked on the street since the morning, according to the Bogotá Metropolitan Police in a Facebook post.
A police officer took the minor out through the rear window of the car and immediately took him to a patrol car. Police attempted to contact or locate the owner of the vehiclebut his efforts were unsuccessful.
Neighbors heard persistent crying and banging from inside the car. Photo: Screenshot/Bogotá Metropolitan Police.The Children’s Policewho went to the site, found that there was no family present who could attend to or remove the minor from the car. Given the emergency, the police were forced to force open the car window to extract the child.
An anonymous witness told local media about the minor’s dramatic condition: «The child was sweating, his face was red, and he couldn’t stop crying. It was a distressing situation,» he said. After being rescued, The child showed symptoms of dehydration, stress and prolonged exposure to heat.
Immediately, the minor received the necessary first aid. Subsequently, he was handed over to the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (ICBF), which is currently evaluating his physical and mental health status, in addition to investigating his family environment.
The authorities investigate the child’s family environment
The lieutenant colonel Norberto Caro confirmed that the minor «is currently in a specialized center for minors.»
The District Department of Security, Public Order and Justice added a statement about the situation: “At this time, the parents have not appeared before any authority.so the identity of the child remains unknown.” The authorities are actively working to locate the child’s parents or guardians.
After being rescued, the boy showed symptoms of dehydration, stress and prolonged exposure to heat. Photo: Screenshot/Bogotá Metropolitan Police.Those responsible could face charges of child abuse and neglect. As part of the ongoing investigation, the vehicle was immobilized.
As a result of the incident, Lieutenant Colonel Caro issued a stern warning to the public, stating that “Under no circumstances should we leave our children unattended.especially in vehicles.”
The National Police issued a call to parents and caregivers in general, highlighting that abandoning minors, particularly inside vehicles, can “generate an impact on their health and can be life-threatening and the integrity of our own children and adolescents.”
