Burwood Police probe death of one-year-old girl in car outside childcare centre on Marana Road, Earlwood

A one-year-old girl has been found dead after being left in a car outside a childcare centre in Sydney’s Inner West, in what police have described as “an absolute tragedy”.

NSW Police say the child was found at 5.35pm after emergency services responded to reports of a toddler being located unresponsive in a vehicle outside a childcare centre on Marana Road, Earlwood.

A man, believed to be the girl’s father, reportedly turned up to the daycare centre to pick up the toddler, only to be told she never arrived. It’s understood the man then discovered the girl was still in her baby capsule in his car.

Paramedics were called to the scene but were unable to revive the girl, declaring her dead.

Superintendent Christine McDonald said police were still piecing together a timeline of events before the child was found and the cause of death would be determined by the coroner.

“The information provided to us suggests that this baby was left inside the vehicle for an extended period of time on a very hot day here in Sydney,” she said, speaking at a press conference on Tuesday night.

“Leaving a child in a vehicle at any time can be dangerous. Leaving a child inside a vehicle for an extended period of time can be deadly.

“This is an absolute tragedy.”

Supt McDonald did not confirm whether the man who found the child was the girl’s father but described him as a “direct relative”, adding he had been taken to hospital suffering from shock.

“Once (the man) is able to, we will speak with him to obtain more details,” she said.

The child’s mother is also “assisting with inquiries”.

Supt McDonald said it was impossible to imagine how the parents were feeling, but they were “no doubt, extremely upset”.

Officers from Burwood Police Area Command have established a crime scene and are continuing their investigation.