Abdoulaye Dieng remained trapped for at least six minutes before staff removed him from the space on Wednesday, July 22
Credit: Polícia Civil do Estado de São Paulo
NEED TO KNOW
- Abdoulaye Dieng died after his head became trapped between a mirror and a safety bar at a daycare center in Brazil
- The child’s family alleges staff left the kids unsupervised to attend the daycare director’s birthday celebration on July 22
- Authorities are investigating the fatal incident as manslaughter
A young boy died after allegedly being left unsupervised at a daycare center in Brazil.
On Wednesday, July 22, Abdoulaye Dieng died from asphyxiation after trapping his head between a mirror and an iron bar at the Luz do Brás daycare center in São Paulo, Brazilian outlets O Globo and G1 reported.
The 1-year-old was in the playroom at the daycare center when his head slipped between a metal safety bar and a mirror inside the room. He allegedly struggled for around six minutes to get free before the nursery workers noticed the situation and removed him, according to the outlets.
The daycare staff approached the Military Police while carrying Abdoulaye in their arms at around 9:20 a.m. local time. He was taken to the Mooca Emergency Care Unit (UPA), where he died, per O Globo and G1.
Credit: Polícia Civil do Estado de São Paulo
Abdoulaye’s father, Ibrahima Dieng, had dropped him off at daycare at around 7:30 a.m. that day. Around two hours later, the daycare called saying that “Abdoulaye got sick” and they were “taking him to the hospital,” per G1.
“They sent a message saying the child had fallen ill. The parents believed their son was receiving medical attention,” the family’s lawyer, Erson de Oliveira, said, per O Globo.
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
The family alleges that the children were left unsupervised at the daycare center while the staff attended the director’s birthday celebration, according to Oliveira.
The case is being investigated as manslaughter. The Civil Police have questioned five employees over the incident: the director, a coordinator, a teacher, a pedagogue, and another staff member, per O Globo and G1.
Credit: Getty
The Municipal Department of Education (MDE) has reportedly initiated an administrative procedure parallel to the police investigation.
The department said in a statement, per O Globo, “If irregularities are confirmed, appropriate measures will be taken, including the possible disqualification of the partner organization responsible for the unit.”
A funeral was held for Abdoulaye on Friday, July 24.
Ibrahima, who is from Senegal and has lived in Brazil for eight years, told G1 of losing his son, “[I] cry, cry a lot, it’s so sad.”
He added of the boy’s mother, “She cries a lot… it’s very sad. It’s going to be very difficult for her to recover.”
Luz do Brás daycare center, the Civil Police, MDE and Oliveira did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Read the full article here
