Tragedy as three-year-old boy is found dead in a daycare minibus parked outside a school – as police reveal he’d been on board for HOURS before driver made the grim discovery
- Grim discovery was made on Stokes Street, Edmonton, in Far North Queensland
- Detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the child’s death
- Boy’s mother has been informed and a report will be prepared for the coroner
A three-year-old boy has been found dead in a daycare bus parked outside a primary school.
The grim discovery was made at the gates of Hambledon State School on Stokes Street, Edmonton, in Far North Queensland at about 3pm on Tuesday.
Detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
The grim discovery was made on Stokes Street, Edmonton, in Far North Queensland, at 3.15pm on Tuesday. Pictured: the scene where police are investigating
‘It’s early days and a number of factors could be at play here and we’ll investigate all possibilities,’ Detective Inspector Jason Smith told Nine.
‘The death of any child is an awful thing which is why it’s so important for us to get to the bottom of this.’
The boy is believed to have boarded the bus, owned by Goodstart Early Learning, in the morning and was supposed to be dropped off at a daycare.
But his body was found by the bus driver at 3.15pm outside the primary school – about 1km from his daycare centre – as temperatures reached 34C.
A Goodstart Early Learning spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia the company was ‘devastated’ to learn of the child’s death.
‘We are working to support the entire centre team, our families and our children,’ the spokesperson said.
‘The matter is now a police investigation and we will be working with the police, Department of Education (childhood education and care), and Workplace health and Safety.
Detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the child’s death
Hambledon State School postponed a scheduled parents’ meeting following the tragedy
‘Our thoughts are very much with the family of the child at this time.’
The boy’s mother has been informed.
Hambledon State School postponed a scheduled parents’ meeting following the tragedy.
‘Good afternoon families, due to unforeseen circumstances the P&C meeting scheduled for tonight has been cancelled,’ the school wrote on Facebook.
‘We will reschedule this as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding.’
A report will be prepared for the coroner.