PATTAYA, THAILAND – Emergency crews freed a one-and-a-half-year-old girl and a four-year-old from a locked BMW in the car park behind Bhatamakun Hospital after around 30 minutes of anxious waiting.
How the children became trapped
The mother had left the 1½-year-old, identified as Alin, on the front seat while she was outside the vehicle. In a brief, unguarded moment the toddler pressed the remote for the car key, activating the central locking and leaving both children alone inside the black BMW in the Naklua parking area.
Passersby and the parents tried to persuade the four-year-old to open the doors from inside, but the children were too young to operate the locking mechanisms. The situation intensified as minutes ticked by and onlookers grew increasingly alarmed.
Rescue team used specialist tools
Rescue workers from the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Center stationed at Bhatamakun Hospital responded to the emergency call. They used specialist equipment to access the vehicle, prying open the window control panels in a way that avoided damaging the glass or endangering the children.
After roughly half an hour the rescuers managed to open the doors and remove the children from the car.
Children unharmed but shaken
A rescue paramedic confirmed the children were physically unharmed. “Both children are fine; they only suffered a great shock,” the paramedic said, adding that the rapid and careful response had prevented harm.
Warnings for parents and wider context
Rescue workers urged parents never to leave children unattended in a vehicle, even for a short time. “Always take your children with you when you get out — even if it’s only for a minute,” they said.
Temperatures inside a closed car can rise quickly and become life-threatening; while October conditions in Pattaya are often tolerable, rescuers warned the same incident in summer heat could have had far graver consequences.
The incident underlined ongoing safety messages about child supervision and vehicle risks, prompting renewed calls for vigilance among caregivers.