Boy, 3, dies after being left in a car in 40c heat while his father attended bible service at local church
The boy was left for 45 minutes before the family realised
A THREE-year-old boy died in on Sunday after his parents apparently FORGOT him inside their car when they were in church.
The family, originally from Burma, only realised the boy was missing after their four older children returned from children’s bible study and the boy was not with them.
The father immediately ran out to the family’s SUV and then brought the boy into the church. But it was too late.
Church member Reng Om told :"He was very... looked like bad. He was grabbing his kid, and the kid would not move, and said 'I need somebody help, call the police'".
"We didn't know. We didn't see. He just bring into the building inside, and we saw it and get the people, we need to help and call 911."
Speaking to , Om added: "I think he wanted to call police but he doesn't speak English.
"They are a perfect family. I'm very upset for him."
"The kids like to read the Bible. I'm really upset for family."
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It was when the children left their bible study to join the rest of the congregation that the family realised something was wrong.
"Every kid comes out to the main service room, and they would read the bible and singing, and they would go back into that room," Om said.
It was at this point the boy's parents, who have not been named, grew concerned about his whereabouts when he did not return with his siblings and began to search for him.
The father checked the car park and found the toddler unresponsive inside the family's Honda Pilot.
that the boy had been in the car for 45 minutes and that temperatures in the area were 100F.
He then ran inside with the child and, having trouble speaking English, asked another churchgoer to call 911.
Emergency services arrived at around 4pm and performed CPR on the boy before rushing him to hospital.
He was pronounced dead on arrival.
A member of the congregation said the family were regular attenders of the 2pm Sunday service, which has a large number of Burmese in the congregation.
Police said they got a call from firefighters to attend the scene. Detectives looked over the family's SUV which was still parked outside the church.
Police have released few details about the case. They said this remains an active investigation.
People in the family’s church community are now praying for them.
Om added: “Oh I’m really upset for him and the family. You know today is Sunday and every Sunday we pray. We believe in God."