Working mum’s woe: Chinese girl, 3, rescued from locked car after mother goes for hours-long job interview
Incident highlights the struggles working mothers face, internet users say
A young girl had to be rescued from a locked car by police in eastern China after her mother left her inside alone on a hot day while she went for a job interview, according to a newspaper report.
The girl was left in the car in Hangzhou in Zhejiang province for several hours, the China Youth Daily said.
Police heard the girl, aged about three, crying in the vehicle on Tuesday, according to the article.
Her mother had left the girl in the car parked near the company where she had a job interview. She had intended to be gone only for a short while, but it was several hours before she was able to return.
The girl was found to be sweating and nearly dehydrated after police forced their way into the car, the report said.
Officers then contacted the girl’s father after checking the vehicle’s licence plate. The mother return to the child after lunch and was full of remorse, according to the report.
Some internet users on Weibo pointed out that the incident reflected the struggles of a working mother.
“Have to watch over the child and find a job,” one user wrote. “Although she made a mistake, I believe she has her own difficulties.”
Another commented: “If she brought the child with her, she would be afraid to look bad at the interview, but not bringing her would be dangerous. Can only say that this situation is not easy.”
Yet another said: “Hope she learned her lesson, that the interview went smoothly, and their family income will be higher.”
The incident prompted police to remind parents of the dangers of leaving their children alone in cars, especially during the summer. The mother was not charged by the police, the article said.
Last week, Chinese media reported that a one-year-old boy and his elderly grandmother had to be rescued after they were locked in a hot car in Jiangxi province. The boy’s mother had locked them in the vehicle after a family row.
