Bolebedu: Two boys (3) found suffocated inside wrecked vehicle
Preliminary investigations suggest the boys suffocated to death due to extreme heat after they were accidently locked in a wrecked vehicle
LIMPOPO – An inquest case is being investigated by police in Bolebedu outside Tzaneen, following the discovery of two 3-year-old boys’ bodies.
Their bodies were discovered on Monday night, on the backseat of a wrecked vehicle at the residences of one of the deceased, in Maupa village, Police Spokesperson Col Moatshe Ngoepe said.
“According to one of the deceased’s mother, the victims left home to church at about 08:30. It was only realised in the evening that the children were missing. They started searching for the duo with other family members around the village but they were not found,” Ngoepe said.
The mother reported the missing children at the Bellview satellite police station and a joint search operation was launched by the Saps K9 Unit and local police, with the support from the community.
“Later that night, the boys were found on the backseat of the wrecked vehicle. Members of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were summoned and both boys were certified dead on the scene,” Ngoepe added.
He said preliminary police investigations indicate the boys were playing in the vehicle when they were accidentally locked and unable to free themselves.
“Unfortunately, there was no immediate assistance to free them and they suffocated to death due to the heat wave experienced during the day. The postmortem examination will still be conducted to determine the exact cause of death,” he concluded.
The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt Gen Nneke Ledwaba has called on members of the community to strengthen measures on child safety to avoid this type of incidents to occur.
