Terrible tragedy of a 6 year old from a fatal misjudgement

@bryanwmc (1051)
Malaysia
February 9, 2013 1:59pm CST
if you are a parent, learn from this terrible tragedy ( Malaysians are familiar with this recent tragic event a month ago) There was this couple with their 3 kids who had parked in front of a electrical appliance store, parents probably thought it will be a very quick, just hop in and out of the shop after buying something so they left the 3 kids in the car as they went into the store. Kids were a 7 year old , 6 year old and a 1 year old toddler respectively. just few minutes later when the parents returned to the car , 6 year old William Yau was nowhere to be seen, apparently he had gone off in search for the parents when his baby sister started crying non stop leaving his 7 year old brother in the car. A frantic search with the police and sniffer dogs and volunteer searchers yielded nothing , little 6 year old William Yau seem to have vanished without a trace. Then the police launched a massive search operation with nationwide publicity , police combed every inch of vicinity where boy was last seen, hundreds of people interviewed,evry possible angle investigated to no avail until 10 days later when a body of a child was found floating in a river 30 km from the scene.the badly decomposed body confirmed later to be that of the missing boy William Yau. . Now circumstances surrounded his death are still unclear, speculation has it that he wandered and fell into a storm drain and drowned and body floated downstream in the river till the eventual discovery. But there are some people who thinks that there is a more sinister cause .possible abduction and murder . Even the distraught parents have been accused , claiming child abuse that might have gotten out of hand. Police are still investigating all angles regarding the tragic demise of the boy. Lest we forget , in the beginning, just a little error in judgement and assuming that nothing untoward can happen leaving the children in the car for just a few minutes, which brought on this horrible outcome. point being , do not ever just assume and take it for granted that nothing can possibly happen especially involving children and leave them unattended , ..never ever do what was done with this tragic case, just assume kids will be fine unattended for just few minutes in the car, to think that if the children had gone into the electrical store with the parents, the tragedy would have been averted..
4 people like this
6 responses
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
10 Feb 13
Isn't there a law in that country that prohibit parents from leaving their kids in the car? not only posing the danger of being kidnapped but as well as being suffocated inside the car.
1 person likes this
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
10 Feb 13
Danger of also being carjacked!
@MoonGypsy (4606)
• United States
9 Feb 13
something like this happened here in the states to a boy named adam walsh. he was in the store with his mother and went to the other isle to look at toys. when his mother tried to go look for him, he was no where to be found. after days of searching, police finally found the man who admitted to abducting the boy, then cutting his head of and throwing him in a ditch. he lead police right to crime scene. at first they were looking at the parents involment, as well. at the time the incident happened, the adam was 12 years old. you would think that he was old enough to be in the next isle by himself, but obviously not. that's why i never take chances like that with my kids. i keep them close to me. they are always where i know they are. you can't take any chances.
1 person likes this
@bryanwmc (1051)
• Malaysia
10 Feb 13
It is the not knowing who lurks about that worries me, especially in public places , or quiet spots. who knows where evil intentioned child preying opportunist or weirdos will manifest n pounce. I have a same approach as you, always have my eye on them ,rather not take chances, more so in crowded public places , rather play safe than sorry.. You cannot help it but worry , especially when there has been a spate of abductions of young girls recently in my city that is still unsolved, one incident early last year had a young 12 yr old girl snatched from a neighbourhood playground in front of her own house, witnessed by other horrified kids,, With things like this going on , it does mess with my mind a little
@joliefille (3690)
• Philippines
10 Feb 13
Oh no that's terrible. I have a 4-year-old niece and I always hold her hand every time we go outside to buy something. In other times I would carry her even though she is becoming heavier I would sacrifice that. I can't take chances when we're in the marketplace. Even earlier in the bakery while I was waiting for my order, I never let my sight out of her and just wait for the lady at the bakery to call me when my order is done.
10 Feb 13
Someone has rightly said that precaution is better than cure. It is a positive thing in you that you are so much concerned about her. At least you will feel relaxed all the time.
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
9 Feb 13
I don't understand how parents continue to make this error in judgement. I would never leave a child unattended without an adult in the car. Anthing can happen when it comes to children, in a blink of an eye. How very tragic for the family but then I have to ask why on earth did both parents have to go into the store. This could have prevented the tragic outcome. I will never understand the logic there. This happens more often then not and other people stories don't seem to be pentrating the brain for parents to stop this practice.
1 person likes this
@stary1 (6612)
• United States
10 Feb 13
bryanwmc Thanks for this reminder..I am always surprised and saddened that parents do these really dangerouse things...3 children under the age of 8 can't be left alone in a car...who can't understand that? I never ever left a child unattended in a car no matter how short the errand.. Sure it is a hassle to unbuckle and take 3 children into a store but parents have to be responsible and after all while it seems forever, this will only last a few years...
@bryanwmc (1051)
• Malaysia
11 Feb 13
Yes , and well , with the 7 year old and the 6 year old , i can still struggle to understand the situation a bit but there was also a 1 year old baby as well...i think the lesson for all is that , no matter how quick it may be , kids must not be left behind not even for few seconds..like earlier in the post when Alisonkk99 shared about the couple who went to the restroom at a gas station leaving their baby in the car and in an instant when they went back , car was gone, baby and all, luckily police found car and baby few hours later, safe.. it is terrible what happened but i really hope that people will learn from this about leaving kids unattended in wherever, cars or allowing them to go to public restrooms all by themselves .
@blackrusty (3519)
• Mexico
10 Feb 13
a child should never be left in a car no matter what the age just my thing and i and have seen it many times
• Mexico
11 Feb 13
that make 2 of us