A three-year-old boy died this Thursday in Porriño, Pontevedra, likely from heat stroke after spending several hours inside a car parked in the sun while his mother was on her way to work.
Officials cited by the Prensa Ibérica group to FARO reported that the tragedy occurred shortly before 4 pm when the parent, alerted by the child’s father, realized the grave mistake and was shaken by the shock of the moment.
Medical teams who arrived at the scene confirmed there was nothing that could be done to save the child, and his death was recorded on site.
Sources consulted by FARO DE VIGO indicate that the boy’s mother began her work day at the Lonza Biologics center in the Torneiros neighborhood around 10:00 am. She parked in a dirt lot beside an asphalt area that was already full, then drove to work at the factory, unaware that her son was still seated in the rear seat in the adapted chair. It appears she had intended to drop the child at the nursery before heading to work, but the child had fallen asleep and she did not leave him behind, mistakenly assuming he would be fine in the back seat and continuing toward the company.
Preoccupied with household duties, the mother did not register what had happened until the father notified her. He was supposed to pick up the child from the nursery, but could not locate him there.
When the kindergarten staff learned of the situation, they reported that the mother had not left the child with him earlier in the morning, and they suspected something might be wrong. The grim discovery of the deceased child inside the car prompted the father to go to the factory. According to people familiar with the events, the time was already around 3:45 pm. Emergency services were alerted immediately, but responders could only confirm the child was dead. The Porriño Local Police and the Civil Guard, whose detachment was nearby, were also dispatched to the scene.
Authorities indicated that the autopsy would determine precisely when the death occurred, with estimates suggesting the child had remained in the car for roughly six hours. Reports also noted that despite the warm day, the child kept his jacket on while inside the vehicle, reflecting a misjudgment of the interior temperature of the car in Porriño.
The mother, learning of her son’s death, is receiving medical and psychological support in the wake of the tragedy.
The head of the Porriño 1st Investigation Court arrived at the scene and later succumbed to illness around 6:30 pm.
Investigation
Meanwhile, the Porriño Civil Guard has assumed command of the inquiry, with the prevailing view pointing toward the facts described by the boy’s father as the central thread of the case.
Employees at Lonza and residents of the Porriño neighborhood expressed deep shock over the incident. Local authorities announced two days of mourning, and the planned Porriñal festival events for the weekend have been suspended as a mark of respect.
The mother of the deceased child is receiving ongoing psychological support and counseling as authorities continue their inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death.
Attributions: This summary reflects information reported by local outlets and officials who described the sequence of events and the ongoing investigation in Porriño. The reporting sources emphasize the importance of immediate social and medical response and the impact on the family and community.