The child was discovered in cardiac arrest in the vehicle of the family.

10:45, Thu, Jun 25, 2026 Updated: 10:59, Thu, Jun 25, 2026

Saint Gratien

The incident happened in Saint-Gratien, Val-d'Oise, France (file pic) (Image: WIKIMEDIA)

A three-year-old boy was found dead in his parents' car, as a blistering heatwave continues to ravage the European continent. The youngster was discovered by his parents inside the parked vehicle outside the family home in Saint-Gratien, north of Paris, on Wednesday evening after they had reportedly lost sight of him for around 45 minutes.

Emergency services rushed to the scene at around 7pm local time after the child was found in cardiac arrest. Firefighters attempted to resuscitate the boy, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. According to French newspaper Le Parisien, the child had earlier told his parents he wanted to take a nap and was asked to go to his bedroom. For reasons that remain unclear, he is believed to have instead climbed into the family car, which was parked outside the family home, where he became trapped. His parents later realised he was missing after failing to find him in his room. The report said a passing bus driver heard the child's mother's screams, climbed over the property's gate and began administering first aid before emergency crews arrived.

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Boys under fountain in Jardin des Tuileries, Paris

The unprecedented heatwave hits the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris on Wednesday (Image: Apaydin Alain/ABACA/Shutterstock)

A forensic examination has been ordered and French authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the child's death.

The tragedy comes as France battles one of its most severe June heatwaves in recent years, with temperatures soaring above 40C in parts of the country.

The UK Government has issued an 'extreme' travel warning for Brits heading to the country, along with Spain and Portugal.

More than half of France's regions are currently under the harshest weather warning, as a "heat-dome" settles across western Europe.

The extreme temperatures have stretched the country's emergency services, with hospitals reporting a surge in heat-related illnesses and authorities warning that children, older people and those with underlying health conditions are particularly vulnerable.

The incident follows another devastating tragedy earlier this week, when two young children aged two and four died after becoming trapped inside a car in southern France during the same heatwave.

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