A 1-year-old boy died after his head became trapped between a mirror and a metal safety bar inside a daycare center in Brazil, as his grieving family alleges staff members had left the children unsupervised during a birthday celebration.
Abdoulaye Dieng, who was 1 year and 4 months old, died from asphyxiation on Wednesday, July 22, following the horrifying incident at the Luz do Brás daycare center in São Paulo, according to Brazilian outlets O Globo and G1.
The toddler was reportedly inside the daycare’s playroom when his head slipped into a narrow gap between an iron bar and a mirror. He allegedly struggled for approximately six minutes before nursery workers realized what was happening and freed him.
At around 9:20 a.m. local time, daycare employees approached Military Police officers while carrying Abdoulaye in their arms. He was rushed to the Mooca Emergency Care Unit, known as UPA, but doctors were unable to save him.
Abdoulaye’s father, Ibrahima Dieng, had dropped him off at the daycare at approximately 7:30 that morning. Roughly two hours later, the family received a call saying the boy had become sick and was being taken to a hospital.
“They sent a message saying the child had fallen ill. The parents believed their son was receiving medical attention,” family attorney Erson de Oliveira said, according to O Globo.
The family now claims the daycare children had been left without proper supervision because staff members were attending a birthday celebration for the facility’s director.
Authorities are investigating the death as a possible manslaughter case.
Civil Police have questioned five daycare employees, including the director, a coordinator, a teacher, a pedagogue and another staff member, according to O Globo and G1.
São Paulo’s Municipal Department of Education has also opened a separate administrative investigation into the daycare and the circumstances surrounding Abdoulaye’s death.
“If irregularities are confirmed, appropriate measures will be taken, including the possible disqualification of the partner organization responsible for the unit,” the department said in a statement.
A funeral for Abdoulaye was held on Friday, July 24.
His father, who is originally from Senegal and has lived in Brazil for eight years, described the family’s overwhelming grief.
“I cry, cry a lot. It’s so sad,” Ibrahima told G1.
Speaking about Abdoulaye’s mother, he added, “She cries a lot. It’s very sad. It’s going to be very difficult for her to recover.”
The Luz do Brás daycare center, the Civil Police, the Municipal Department of Education and Oliveira did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment.
