3 Year Old Boy Left Alone After Shelter Staff Make Botanical Garden Error

The management of the Coeur Immaculée shelter has issued a formal apology to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare after a three-year-old boy was accidentally left behind at the Pamplemousses Botanical Garden on Tuesday, 16 December.

The Incident

The toddler was discovered wandering alone in the gardens by an employee after his carers departed the site. According to official reports, the oversight occurred when the group prepared to leave shortly before 3:00 pm.

Two vehicles had been arranged for the outing; however, staff in each vehicle reportedly assumed the child was travelling in the other, leading to him being left on the grounds.

Discovery and Identification

Police were alerted by a garden worker who found the boy, dressed in a red t-shirt, blue shorts, and sandals, unable to communicate his identity. Initial searches for his guardians at the scene proved unsuccessful.

The child was subsequently taken to the local police station, where he was eventually identified by the shelter’s secretary as a resident of the centre.

Key Details of the Outing

• Original Plan: The children were initially scheduled for a trip to the beach.
• Change of Route: Due to inclement weather, the excursion was diverted to the Botanical Garden.
• The Error: A lack of coordination between the two transport vehicles led to the “oversight.”

Current Status

The Ministry has confirmed that the boy was taken to the hospital for a medical examination and was assessed by a Ministry psychologist. Sources indicate that the child is doing well and has shown no signs of trauma at this stage.

The shelter’s management has submitted a formal correspondence to the Ministry detailing the circumstances of the incident and expressing their regret.

Source: Le Mauricien