Two young boys tragically passed away during a severe heatwave in France. The children, identified as Kassim Benouali, aged four, and his two-year-old brother Sadek, suffered cardiac arrests after being inadvertently left inside a car where temperatures possibly soared up to 70C.
The boys were discovered unresponsive inside the vehicle by their mother, Wafa El Boubkari, after the family returned home from a swimming excursion and a shopping trip in Bois de l’Ubac, Carpentras. Initial reports suggested that the children had locked themselves in the car, but subsequent investigations revealed conflicting statements from the mother to the police.
In a revised statement, Ms. Boubkari claimed that the children had entered the car without her knowledge, locked themselves inside, and became trapped, leading to a manslaughter investigation. The incident, which occurred without air conditioning, caused temperatures inside the car to rise dangerously.
The boys’ grandmother, Fatiha, described the event as a “huge tragedy,” emphasizing that it was a genuine mistake on her daughter’s part due to the challenging circumstances. The siblings were found in cardiac arrest in their family car and despite efforts by emergency services, they could not be revived.
Postmortem results indicated that the boys succumbed to dehydration from prolonged exposure to extreme heat. The community mourned the loss of the young brothers, with a funeral service held at Carpentras Mosque. Ms. Boubkari, who works at a local patisserie, received support from colleagues and loved ones as she coped with the devastating loss.
The family’s close circle expressed profound sadness for Wafa’s anguish, highlighting her dedication as a mother and the overwhelming grief she must be experiencing. The heartbreaking incident has deeply affected the community and serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers of extreme heat exposure.
