Rockhampton daycare centre: Two woman charged leaving toddler on bus: Le Smileys

Two daycare workers are charged with allegedly leaving toddler on a bus for six hours

  • Two women charged with one count each of grievous bodily harm 
  • The three-year-old was found in critical condition on a daycare bus 
  • There were signs warning of dangers of leaving children in hot cars

Police have charged two women for allegedly leaving a toddler on a scorching hot bus for six hours causing her to suffer kidney failure.

The three-year-old was found unconscious in a critical condition at the Le Smileys Early Learning Centre in Gracemere, Rockhampton in Central Queensland, but she miraculously survived.

Just before 4pm on Tuesday, police announced that two Gracemere women had been charged with one count each of grievous bodily harm. 

The women, aged 30 and 31, allegedly picked up the little girl at about 8.30am on May 4 and drove to the childcare centre where they parked the bus and left her inside. 

Steps away, there were two signs warning of the dangers of leaving children in hot cars. 

A three-year old girl (pictured), who cannot be named for legal reasons, was left on a van for hours in scorching temperatures

A child's booster seat was visible as officers (pictured) took pictures from multiple angles, jotted down notes and discussed their findings

A child’s booster seat was visible as officers (pictured) took pictures from multiple angles, jotted down notes and discussed their findings

Another staff member allegedly drove the van to a school in Gracemere at about 2.45pm, and saw the little girl unresponsive in the back of the bus. 

Temperatures had soared to nearly 30C on the day she was left in the van.

She was taken into the centre where staff started CPR and called the emergency services. 

The girl was rushed to Rockhampton Base Hospital in a critical condition and was then flown to Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane. 

A couple of days later, her grandmother appeared on morning television shows to say she was ‘awake, smiling, and eating ice-cream’.

‘She’s calling out, squealing and laughing, poking her tongue out – she’s doing awesome,’ the grandmother said. 

The child has since made an astonishing recovery and returned home. 

The two accused women are due to appear in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on July 26.  

Three-year-old made a miraculous recovery, after being found in a critical condition on a daycare bus in Gracemere (pictured)

Three-year-old made a miraculous recovery, after being found in a critical condition on a daycare bus in Gracemere (pictured)