A Florida girl was rescued after spending half an hour inside a scorching hot vehicle while her father shopped for Mother’s Day.
42-year-old Raul Rielo-Fernandez completely forgot about his 3-year-old daughter after he left her alone inside an SUV with the windows up and the engine off outside Sam’s Club in West Palm Beach.
A passerby spotted the toddler and alerted 911. Investigators determined the temperature inside the vehicle reached more than 117 degrees Fahrenheit.
“Good Samaritans apparently opened the car, it was unlocked, took the child out of the car seat,” said WPB Police Spokesperson Mike Jachles.
“When they found the girl, she was profusely sweating. She was red, flushed, and crying.”
Jachles said that the father claimed he only left the girl in the car for 15 minutes.
“She was in the car, it was determined, for about 31 minutes; not 15 like the father said,”
“So you can imagine how hot it was. Certainly, it could’ve been deadly for that child.”
