Australia heatwave: Girls aged one and two die ‘after being found in hot car’

Two sisters aged one and two have died after they were left in a car south of Brisbane, Australia, during 31C heat.

The toddlers were reportedly found by their mother at 1.30pm on Saturday, outside their home, who rushed them into the house and splashed cold water over them.

Police and paramedics were called to the house in the Logan suburb of Waterford West, and tried to revive the girls, but it was too late.

A police investigation has now been launched into the circumstances of the girls’ death, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Detective Inspector Mark White said the children were declared dead at the scene.

He said: "We are speaking with the parents of these children and it's just a very, very tragic incident that has occurred.

"The two children exhibited evidence of being exposed to extreme heat and that is forming the direction of our investigation."

He said alongside the investigation, an additional concern for police would be to make sure there was enough support for first responders.

"It is very, very tragic and can be quite a distressing scene," he added.

One neighbour told Australia’s Seven News: "It's pretty heartbreaking because I walk past here every day and see the kids on the street. It's pretty sad to see stuff like this happen close to home."

Another neighbour said: "It makes you think that if you'd walked down maybe half an hour earlier, you could have saved those kids."

Police are reportedly speaking to the parents who are co-operating, and no arrests have been made.

On a hot day, the temperature inside a parked car can be as much as 20-30C hotter than it is outside, according to Australian governmental advice, and most of this temperature rise can happen within the first five minutes.