“PSP police was informed that a child was crying on a balcony alone. Unable to contact the residents of the housing, the police activated means to enter the housing and remove the child, as her physical integrity was in danger” explains the Metropolitan Command of Lisbon (Cometlis) of PSP, in a statement.

Already in contact with the “visibly frightened” child, the police found that the girl “had no access to food or water and had a red colour on her face,” indicating “she was exposed to solar radiation on the balcony”.

The child was later taken to the Dona Estefânia Hospital in Lisbon, and after being discharged, "was sent to a shelter where she has been staying so far," the statement said.

“It was later possible to locate the suspects, parents of the child, who during detention and when faced with the facts, admitted leaving the child alone in the room since the early afternoon of August 23 [Friday], for about 14 hours” says Cometlis, adding that the detention took place at 3:40 am on Saturday.