The toddler killed by a car on holiday in Roscommon reportedly got out of bed and wandered out of the home - with his parents thinking he was still asleep.
In a shocking tragedy the boy, who was only 21 months old, was hit by a jeep shortly after 9am yesterday near the village of Ballinagare.
It's understood the tot's parents came to Ireland on holiday from the UK and were staying with family members when the incident happened.
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The child had left his bed and wandered out of the house on his own while his parents were still asleep, the Irish Mail reports.
It's thought the collision happened when a driver didn't see the child as he entered the area near to where the toddler had been staying.
He then immediately alerted the residents of the nearby house after he realised what had happened.
They soon noticed the child wasn't in bed or inside the house, and the boy was treated at the scene of the accident by emergency services.
However, despite their best efforts, he was later pronounced dead.
A source told the Irish Daily Mail : "They were a couple from the UK who were staying at a family member’s house, in a very rural area about two miles outside Ballinagare.
"A neighbour who owns fields beside them was turning into his land when he noticed a bump. When he got out of his jeep and saw the toddler he ran straight to the house and alerted the people inside.
"The parents were still in bed at the time and informed him that their son was still asleep. Unfortunately, they soon discovered that this wasn’t the case and that the child must have left the house on his own."
Gardaí are now investigating the incident but confirmed that no foul play is suspected.
No other injuries were reported in the collision either.
In response to the tragedy, Cllr Tom Crosby said: “It’s shocking, I don’t know the family.
“But it’s very sad. It’s a close knit community and they will certainly be there to support the family at this time and through the coming days, weeks and months.
“And I send my condolences on behalf of Roscommon County Council.”
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