UPDATE: Twins rescued from locked car in Half Way Tree

Damion Mitchell, Editor - Radio & Online

There were anxious moments in Half Way Tree, St Andrew this afternoon as emergency personnel scrambled to rescue twins who were locked in a BMW motorcar in the Winchester Business Centre.

Hours later, the father of the twins explained that the mother had just placed the children in the back passenger seat of car, closed the door and attempted to enter the vehicle when she realised that the locking system malfunctioned and she could not get back in.

The twins who are 2 1/2 years old were just coming from a check-up at the doctor, said the father who asked not to be named.

For about 20 minutes, passersby, fire personnel and the police tried to open the vehicle to free the children.

“The children are now fine. They were a little dehydrated because it took a little while to get them out,” he said.

Emergency personnel were able to pry the driver’s door with a pick axe and then lift the safety locks to remove the children from the vehicle in the mid afternoon sun.

The keys to the car had been locked inside the vehicle.

The father said it was a terrible ordeal for the mother who watched frantically as emergency personnel and several passersby worked to remove the children.

The father has extended gratitude to the people, police and fire personnel who responded.

He says the local BMW dealer is now investigating what caused the locking system to have malfunctioned.

damion.mitchell@gleanerjm.com