A boy who died while playing a tragic game of hide and seek has been remembered as an inquisitive and car-loving boy.
Family said 10-year-old Bentley, who was neurodiverse, was playing with friends in Mooroopna in northern Victoria when he became trapped in the car boot.
It’s believed he suffered cardiac arrest when temperatures peaked at 35 degrees on Sunday.
His aunt Lainey has set up a GoFundMe page to help his family cover funeral costs, with $5600 raised by Tuesday towards its $20,000 goal.
“In a tragic end to a game of hide and seek, our world stopped,” Lainey said in a statement on behalf of the boy’s family.
“As a family, our hearts are broken as we try to find some sense in a place that no longer feels whole.”
The boy’s mother was resting inside the family home at the time. She later discovered the keys to her car were missing.
Bentley’s death came just two weeks after the loss of his grandmother.
Another aunty, Steph Sutton, shared her grief on social media, describing Bentley as a “shining star”.
“The loss of Bentley has been nothing short of an absolute tragedy,” she posted.
Police say they aren’t treating the boy’s death as suspicious but investigators are still probing the circumstances and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
-AAP
Live News
