NARROW ESCAPE

A three-year-old toddler narrowly escaped tragedy after spending the entire Sunday night trapped inside an unserviceable scrap car at Unit 2 in Jwaneng.It is alleged that the child’s 28-year-old mother, and her boyfriend had travelled from the farms along the Jwaneng–Sekoma road to visit friends in Unit 2. During the visit, the couple got distracted while socialising.When it was time to return home in the evening, the couple realised that the toddler was nowhere to be seen.Panic set in as they searched the house, yard and surrounding areas, but the child had seemingly vanished without a trace.The matter was immediately reported to the police.Jwaneng Police Station Commander Assistant Superintendent Osimilwe Mangena confirmed that they received the report at around 1900 hours.“The parents reported that they had last seen the child about an hour earlier. They told us the child was wearing grey shorts, a black shirt and was barefoot,” Mangena said.Police officers, assisted by concerned residents, launched a search around the neighbourhood and nearby areas, but efforts to locate the toddler that night were unsuccessful.It was only the following morning that the ordeal came to an end. Superintendent Mangena said the child’s mother, while walking near the area where the toddler was last seen, heard cries coming from an abandoned, unserviceable vehicle belonging to a neighbour.“She rushed to the vehicle and found the child inside. Fortunately, the baby was alive and appeared to be in good health,” Mangena said.The toddler was immediately taken to hospital for medical examination and observation.Police suspect that the child may have gone into the scrap car unnoticed, fallen asleep, and only woke up the next morning.Superintendent Mangena described the outcome as fortunate, noting that the situation could easily have ended in tragedy.“This is a serious reminder to parents and guardians that toddlers are naturally curious and can wander off very quickly. They require constant supervision at all times,” he said.Mangena urged parents to be extra vigilant, particularly during social gatherings, adding that abandoned vehicles and unsafe structures pose a deadly risk to young children.

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NARROW ESCAPE