\u201cWe had to turn the car on after a couple of minutes and put the air conditioning on because it was so hot,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
When her husband returned, he was alarmed when he saw the baby in the rear of the car beside them.<\/p>\n
The woman said she immediately realised it was in fact a real child, estimated to be aged between 12 to 18 months, so she called 111.<\/p>\n
They tried to open the car doors but couldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
Fire and Emergency New Zealand and police arrived within an estimated five minutes and got into the car just as the baby\u2019s mother emerged from a nearby business, asking what everyone was doing around her car.<\/p>\n
The woman who called 111 said the baby was asleep in the car, but started to cry later when taken from the car. She said there was sweat down the baby\u2019s back, and the child seemed floppy.<\/p>\n
The woman said the mother told them her child was teething, which was why she was red and appeared to be hot.<\/p>\n
A police spokeswoman told the Rotorua Daily Post police spoke to a woman at the scene regarding reports a child was left alone. The spokeswoman said the child was medically checked and no further action was being taken.<\/p>\n
However, she said police would put through a \u201cReport of Concern\u201d to Oranga Tamariki.<\/p>\n
\u201cPolice are reminding motorists never to leave children in parked vehicles \u2013 no matter where or how the vehicle is parked and not even for five minutes. No matter what time of year.”<\/p>\n
A Hato Hone St John spokeswoman said the service was notified of an incident, and one ambulance responded.<\/p>\n
The spokeswoman said the patient was assessed as being in a \u201cminor\u201d condition and was treated at the scene.<\/p>\n
The woman who called 111 told the Rotorua Daily Post she wasn\u2019t usually upset by much, but the incident had left her feeling anxious and concerned for the child\u2019s ongoing welfare.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m still shaking. It was just awful … The SPCA can bring animal welfare charges if a dog is left in a car but what is the difference between a child and a dog?\u201d<\/p>\n