New Zealand bus driver rescues 2-year-old from ‘moving’ suitcase in luggage compartment
The toddler was alive but very hot after reportedly being in the suitcase for nearly an hour, wearing only a nappy
During a planned stop on Sunday at the settlement of Kaiwaka, north of Auckland, a passenger asked for access to the luggage compartment. Looking in, the bus driver “became concerned when he noticed the bag moving”, Detective Inspector Simon Harrison said in a statement.
When the driver opened the suitcase, he discovered the two-year-old girl, who was very hot but otherwise appeared physically unharmed, Harrison said.
“We would like to acknowledge and commend the bus driver, who noticed something wasn’t right and took immediate action, preventing what could have been a far worse outcome,” he said, as quoted by UK newspaper Metro.
Authorities did not disclose the length of time the toddler was in the baggage compartment or which cities the bus was travelling between, but Radio New Zealand reported that the child had been in the suitcase for nearly an hour, wearing only a nappy.
The child was taken to a hospital, where she remained on Sunday night local time.
