A man is set to appear in court following an incident where a child was left unattended in a car for over half an hour yesterday. The incident occurred around noon at the Toukley Aquatic Centre car park on Heador Street, Toukley.
Emergency services were alerted when a passerby discovered a 13-month-old boy strapped in a child seat inside an unlocked Peugeot 4WD. Upon arrival, officers from Tuggerah Lakes Police District found the child red and sweating but thankfully unharmed. The car’s windows were left slightly open, with the engine off, despite the temperature being 28 degrees Celsius.
It’s alleged that the child was left alone for 40 minutes while the father was inside the swimming complex. The father, a 40-year-old man, was later located and issued a future court attendance notice for leaving a child unsupervised in a motor vehicle, causing emotional distress. He is expected to appear at Wyong Local Court on April 24, 2024.
Family and Community Services (FACS) have been informed of the incident. Police are using this opportunity to remind the public of the dangers associated with leaving children unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.