Major update after toddler dies in hot car in 43C heatwave while 'mother slept'

A mother remains in the hospital after her son was trapped in a hot car and died on France’s hottest day in history. The three-year-old got into the family car while his father thought he was sleeping and was unable to get out due to the child lock, according to public prosecutor Guirec Le Bras.

His mother was napping with her other child, 18 months old, while the father worked in the garden shed, Mr Le Bras told French media. He said: “He apparently shut himself in and became trapped in the vehicle before being found unconscious by his parents.” The mother is in the hospital in a state of shock, he added.

This comes amid the deadly heatwave sweeping Europe, with Paris hitting a June record of 40.9C on Wednesday, marking the first time in 150 years that it’s exceeded 40C.

The city’s mayor, Emmanuel Gregoire, said the heatwave disrupted power supplies and shut schools and cultural landmarks.

He told TF1: “The profile of people currently facing health risks is not necessarily what one might expect – that is, the most vulnerable, because they are closely monitored and well informed.

“Rather, it’s people aged between 50 and 70 who are generally in good health, but who think this is just a normal period and continue going about their usual activities as if nothing has changed. Really, protect yourselves.”

The exact number of heat-related deaths in France is not yet known, but authorities said earlier this week that 48 people had died just from drowning.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu activated the highest level of health services mobilisation, meaning non-urgent operations could be cancelled to focus on weather-related emergencies.

In the UK, Thursday was the UK’s hottest June day on record with a provisional temperature of 36.4C recorded in Yeovilton, Somerset, surpassing the high of 36.1C set on Wednesday in Gosport, Hampshire.

The previous record for the UK’s highest June temperature was 35.6C set in 1957 and equalled in 1976.

The Met Office has also extended its red warning for extreme heat through Friday as a record-breaking heatwave continues to grip the UK. This marks the first time that red heat warnings have remained in force for three consecutive days.