A one-year-old baby girl who tragically died after being left in a hot car has been identified.
Olivia was found unresponsive in a vehicle outside Jelly Beings Early Learning Centre in Earlwood, Sydney, around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. It is believed her father, Etienne Ancelet, had arrived to pick her up but was informed that she had not been dropped off that day.
Mr. Ancelet then realized that he must not have taken Olivia inside the daycare in the morning, meaning she had been left strapped in her baby capsule in the hot car for hours. The temperature in Sydney had risen above 30°C.
Horrified residents heard Mr. Ancelet’s anguished screams as they rushed to help revive Olivia. Paramedics arrived five minutes later, but Olivia, who had just celebrated her first birthday, was declared dead at the scene.
Police are investigating the incident and believe Olivia was left in the car for an extended period due to a mistake. The exact details of what happened are still under investigation.
Roy Gomes, a neighbor, was mowing his lawn when he heard the father’s cries. He immediately ran over and attempted CPR for five minutes before paramedics arrived. Other neighbors helped cool Olivia down by applying water, but sadly, she showed no signs of life.
Emergency services arrived quickly, but despite their efforts, they were unable to revive the baby. The police have established a crime scene and are conducting a major investigation into the incident.
On Wednesday, detectives were seen at the daycare as parents arrived to drop off their children. Some left flowers outside the center in memory of Olivia. A neighbor confirmed that the center’s sign had been removed following the tragedy.
Superintendent Christine McDonald emphasized the dangers of leaving a child in a car, stating, “Leaving a child inside a vehicle for an extended period of time can be deadly. This is an absolute tragedy.”
No charges have been filed yet. Authorities plan to speak to Mr. Ancelet once he is able to provide more details. Olivia’s mother, Kim Visconti, is also cooperating with the police.
Posts on social media show Mr. Ancelet as a loving father who cherished his new role. In March, he shared a picture of him and Olivia napping together, calling it “my most memorable birthday yet.”
In the wake of the tragedy, Mr. Ancelet changed his social media profile to black tiles in mourning.
Support will be offered to emergency responders who attended the traumatic scene.
Supt. McDonald added, “I’m a mother, and you can imagine how traumatic this is. No doubt, the parents are devastated.”
This incident follows another heartbreaking case from February 2023, when toddler Arikh Hasan tragically died after being left in a hot car in Glenfield, Sydney.
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