A potentially deadly tragedy was narrowly averted Thursday afternoon in Netivot after a child became trapped inside an abandoned vehicle during the intense summer heat and was unable to escape.
According to local reports, the child remained inside the closed vehicle until the owner of a local delivery company happened to pass by and noticed him desperately trying to open the doors.
The passerby immediately rushed over and rescued the child from the vehicle. By the time he was freed, the child was drenched in sweat and appeared dehydrated after spending an extended period inside the sweltering car.
The abandoned vehicle was reportedly not in use and had neither a valid inspection nor insurance. It remains unclear how the child got inside or how long he had been trapped before being discovered.
Bichasdei Hashem, the incident ended without serious injury.
The frightening episode serves as another reminder of the deadly danger posed by abandoned or unlocked vehicles, particularly during the summer months when temperatures inside a closed car can rise rapidly to life-threatening levels.
According to Israel’s Beterem Child Safety Organization, 23 children have died over the past five years after being forgotten or trapped inside vehicles, while 53 were injured and more than 1,500 others were rescued.
Safety experts warn that the temperature inside a closed vehicle can reach approximately 70°C (158°F) within about 30 minutes, even when the outside temperature is around 30°C (86°F). Opening a window slightly or parking in the shade does not eliminate the danger.
Organizations including ZAKA and Beterem continue to urge parents never to leave a child alone in a vehicle, even for a moment, and to ensure abandoned vehicles are properly secured or removed to prevent similar incidents.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
