A man is accused of leaving a toddler in a hot car with only a slight crack in a window for air for 40 minutes while he went into a swimming centre on the NSW Central Coast.
The 13-month-old was found alone in a Peugeot 4WD at the Toukley Aquatic Centre carpark at Heador St, Toukley on Sunday afternoon.
Emergency services were called about midday when a passerby found the boy strapped in his car seat while temperatures soared to 28C.
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About 15 minutes later, the boy’s father returned to the car after being contacted by police.
Police allege the boy was left unattended inside the car for 40 minutes while his father was inside the swimming complex.
Police say while the car was unlocked, all doors were shut with no air-conditioning on, with only the front passenger window left slightly ajar.
“The child was assessed at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics and was red and sweating, but was otherwise not injured during the incident,” police said.
Police said the incident was a stark reminder it was unsafe “in any circumstances” to leave a child unattended in a vehicle.
A 40-year-old man was given a future court attendance notice for the offence of leave child unsupervised in a vehicle causing emotional distress, and is expected to appear at Wyong Local Court in April.
Family and Community Services was also notified of the incident.