A four-month-old baby has choked to death at an illegal daycare after being placed there when a government-run facility was temporarily closed.
The incident happened in Curitiba, a city in southern Brazil, on 19th May, after baby Gael's mother left him at the unlicensed "creche" so she could return to work.
Picture shows baby Gael, undated. The four-month-old baby choked on milk in an illegal daycare centre in Curitiba, Brazil, on May 19, 2025. Note: Private photo taken from local media. (Newsflash/NX)
Municipal daycare centres were holding a day of staff training, prompting a rush of extra babies into the illegal facility, which was already operating without authorisation.
The 43-year-old woman who ran the makeshift daycare, named as Maria Eliza, reportedly told police she and her husband, aged 37, suddenly had 20 infants to care for at the same time.
Picture shows baby Gael's mother Izabela Cunha Cordeiro, undated. The four-month-old baby choked on milk in an illegal daycare centre in Curitiba, Brazil, on May 19, 2025. Note: Image is a screenshot from video. (Newsflash/NX)
She said they were overwhelmed and did not notice baby Gael had choked on milk.
The couple who ran the facility were arrested on the same day and remain in custody as police investigate the death.
Gael's devastated mother, Izabela Cunha Cordeiro, said she had tried everything to secure a place in the official system but was told none were available.
She said: "I only went back to work because I had no choice. I tried to get a place in the public daycare, but they said there weren't any."
Picture shows the centre where baby Gael died, undated. The four-month-old baby choked on milk in an illegal daycare centre in Curitiba, Brazil, on May 19, 2025. Note: Image is a screenshot from video. (Newsflash/NX)
She added: "I left him there because I thought it was the only option."
Gael's body was taken to the Institute of Forensic Medicine and was later buried by heartbroken relatives.
Picture shows the centre where baby Gael died, undated. The four-month-old baby choked on milk in an illegal daycare centre in Curitiba, Brazil, on May 19, 2025. Note: Image is a screenshot from video. (Newsflash/NX)
The couple had reportedly run the illegal daycare for more than a decade without inspections or intervention.
Police confirmed they will also be investigating how the unauthorised operation managed to stay open for so long despite being unlicensed.
(MJ Leidig/newsX)