Police are reviewing their investigation into the death of a baby in a hot car in light of a coroner's findings.
Baby feet Photo: 123RF
Waiata Edwards died of hyperthermia in a people mover in the rural Waikato settlement of Otaua on 20 December 2016.
The four-month-old was wrapped in blankets in a bassinet in the front of the van during renovations to her family home.
Her mother was sleeping in the back of the van that afternoon when her father emerged from the house and realised the baby wasn't breathing.
Coroner McDowell's findings state the pair immediately tried to resuscitate the infant while calling an ambulance, but Waiata died.
In her findings, the coroner said the infant's death was a tragic accident, stating neither parent appreciated the risk of sleeping a baby in a hot car.
She said both had actually been motivated to protect her from harm and were sleeping her in the van to keep her away from dusty renovation work.
Police had advised the coroner they were satisfied the death was not suspicious but have since confirmed they would be reviewing their investigation.
In her recommendations, McDowell said babies and children were at higher risk of heatstroke, dehydration and death because they were less able to regulate their body temperature.
She said temperatures in cars with even relatively cool temperatures were prone to rise quickly on clear sunny days, spiking in the first 15 to 30 minutes.
The coroner said public education efforts were necessary to help decrease deaths such as Waitata's and has sent her findings to Safekids Aotearoa.
