- Bentley, 10, became trapped in the hot car
- Neighbor heard screaming in the street
The 10-year-old boy found dead in a hot car boot after a game of hide-and-seek ended in tragedy has been identified.
Bentley took his mother’s car keys and got into the boot of the car parked on Gange Street in Mooroopna, 180 kilometers north of Melbourne, at 3.30pm on Sunday.
His mother was resting when she later discovered the keys were missing.
She rushed to the car and discovered her son, who died of cardiac arrest after being trapped for “a few hours.” Herald Sun reported.
The temperature rose to 35 degrees Celsius in the region on Sunday and reached 40 degrees Celsius on Monday.
Lainey Sutton said her cousin’s death was a “tragic end to a game of hide and seek.”
“December 15th will forever be the day we take a moment to remember our curious, car-loving, Minecraft-enthusiastic, neurodiverse 10-year-old Bentley,” she wrote on a GoFundMe for the 10-year-old.
“As a family, our hearts are broken as we try to find meaning in a place that no longer feels whole.
Bentley, 10, took the keys and got into the boot of the car parked on Gange Street in Mooroopna, 180km north of Melbourne, at 3.30pm on Sunday.
Bentley is in the photo
“This devastating tragedy comes two weeks after the loss of Bentley’s grandmother, which is more than enough loss for one family.
“As you understand, the grief and costs associated with the loss of one family member are crippling, let alone the loss of a second in such a short space of time.
“We understand that this time of year can be difficult financially and emotionally for everyone. It is with heavy hearts that we ask for financial support to help us give our dear Bentley the farewell he deserves.”
It comes after Daily Mail Australia revealed Bentley and his mother attended a traditional Christmas gathering at Mooroopna’s home on Sunday.
The owner of that home, who did not want to be named, declined to speculate on whether the boy became stuck in the trunk while playing hide and seek with her children.
“Yeah, well, I can’t talk about that. She told me not to say anything,” the woman said.
Although she was gagged from speaking, the woman said it was important for people to know her friend had done nothing wrong.
“If it was my child, I would talk,” she said.
His mother was resting when she later discovered the keys were missing
I would tell you what I know because I would hate for anyone to ever think the worst of someone who is doing their best for their child.
‘It was a freak accident. It was the worst…the weather didn’t help.’
The property on Gange Street features a children’s playground with swings, slides and a cubbyhole among a wealth of play equipment visible in the front garden.
Two toddlers continued to play in the garden on Monday, where their young friend had tragically died a day earlier.
A resident said they heard blood-curdling screams from the street and rushed to help.
“Don’t go there,” another neighbor had warned them.
A second resident said they were told Bentley had been in the trunk for “a few hours.”
An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said the child is believed to have died of a heart condition.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the death was not being treated as suspicious and an investigation had been launched.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.