“Leaving a child in a vehicle at any time can be dangerous. Leaving a child inside a vehicle for an extended period of time can be deadly.”
A man, a “close relative” of the little girl, was taken to hospital in shock. Her mother is also helping police.
A crime scene has been established and an investigation into the tragedy is underway.
Superintendent McDonald said all lines of inquiry were being investigated by detectives from Burwood Police Area Command.
She said it was still not known when the baby was left in the car.
“The timeline of events – we need to seek that information from people that we’re currently speaking to or waiting to speak to,” she said.
NSW Ambulance paramedics attended but the little girl died at the scene.
A man believed to be related to the child is assisting police with their inquiries.
Two years ago, a similar tragedy occurred when three-year-old Arikh Hasan was found dead in the back of a Toyota Corolla in Sydney’s southwest as temperatures climbed to 34 degrees.
The young boy’s father Newaz Hasan was reportedly dropping his eldest son off at Glenfield Public school that morning, when he decided to get petrol before taking his younger son to childcare.
However witnesses say the father forgot his sleeping child in the back of the car and continued straight home.
Child safety advocates Kidsafe say more than 5000 children are rescued from hot cars in Australia every year – the majority being babies and toddlers.
“Leaving children unattended in a car – even for a short period of time – can be fatal,” reads information on Kidsafe’s website.
“Children are particularly at risk because they can lose fluid quickly, become dehydrated and suffer from heatstroke.”
