A three-year-old boy was found dead in his parents' car, as a blistering heatwave continues to ravage the European continent. The youngster was discovered by his parents inside the parked vehicle outside the family home in Saint-Gratien, north of Paris, on Wednesday evening after they had reportedly lost sight of him for around 45 minutes.

Emergency services rushed to the scene at around 7pm local time after the child was found in cardiac arrest. Firefighters attempted to resuscitate the boy, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. According to French newspaper Le Parisien, the child had earlier told his parents he wanted to take a nap and was asked to go to his bedroom. For reasons that remain unclear, he is believed to have instead climbed into the family car, which was parked outside the family home, where he became trapped. His parents later realised he was missing after failing to find him in his room. The report said a passing bus driver heard the child's mother's screams, climbed over the property's gate and began administering first aid before emergency crews arrived.

A forensic examination has been ordered and French authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the child's death.

The tragedy comes as France battles one of its most severe June heatwaves in recent years, with temperatures soaring above 40C in parts of the country.

More than half of France's regions are currently under the harshest weather warning, as a "heat-dome" settles across western Europe.

The extreme temperatures have stretched the country's emergency services, with hospitals reporting a surge in heat-related illnesses and authorities warning that children, older people and those with underlying health conditions are particularly vulnerable.