Paris - A 2-year-old French boy has died of the heat because his father forgot him in the family car, France Info radio reported on Wednesday.

Pedestrians in the south-eastern town of Pont de Cheruy noticed the unconscious boy in the car late Tuesday afternoon and called rescue workers. However, attempts to revive the child failed, and he died later in hospital.

According to reports, his father had forgotten all about the child's presence when he parked and locked the car, which was exposed to intense sunshine.

Temperatures in the town reached 25 degrees Celsius in the streets, but police estimated that it was as hot as 45 degrees in the car.

Authorities said that the child had been locked in the car for nearly three hours.

An autopsy is to be performed on the boy to determine the cause of death, which appears to have been dehydration. (dpa)