Boy, 5, who died in hot car after mum forgot he was buckled in picture

Amanda Means, 36, forgot that Trace was still in the back seat of her car when she returned home and parked right in front of her family’s Texas home

A five-year-old boy who died in a hot car after his mother forgot he was buckled for up to three hours has been pictured.

Amanda Means, 36, forgot her son Trace was still in the back seat of her car when she returned home and parked right in front of their family home in Texas.

Trace is said to have been strapped into the car for 2-3 hours when temperatures reached a blistering 37C.

He has now been featured in cute family pictures, beaming alongside his older sister and parents.

His mother had reportedly entered the home to begin preparations for her older daughter’s birthday party when she found her son missing.

After running to her parked Porsche SUV, she found Trace in the back seat unresponsive before calling immediately Emergency services.

Police came to the family home where Trace was sadly pronounced dead.

His mother has not been charged in connection with his death, but police are investigating.

In a Facebook post by Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, he said the mother saw her eight-year-old daughter get out of the car and enter the home.

Since Trace knew how to unbuckle his seat belt, she assumed he’d dismounted from his seat and followed his sister inside.

Preparations for the older sister’s party were underway at the time.

Sheriff Gonzalez told Fox29: “They were so excited to get everything set up.

“They got out of the car and went inside to continue the preparations. The mother went in with the other siblings.”

A bouncy castle was said to be visible from the street.

Tragedy became the fifth child to die of heat stroke after being left in a car this year alone.

Police are investigating the tragic death but do not believe a crime was a cause.