Woman goes shopping and leaves 2-yr-old daughter in a hot car

Johannesburg - A 2-year-old girl in South Africa suffered dehydration and hyperthermia when she was left in a car alone, while her mother went shopping in Roodepoort on Saturday, Netcare 911 paramedics said.

"[The] girl is in a serious condition after she was left alone in a car in Constantia Park, Roodepoort, this afternoon," spokesperson Chris Botha said. A pastor had broken the car window to pull the child out.

The girl was stabilised on scene and rehydrated by paramedics before being taken to a police station.

Police had contacted the father to fetch the girl. It was not immediately clear what happened to the mother.