Japanese father arrested after 2-year-old son dies trapped in washing machine

A 31-year-old father in Japan's Ibaraki prefecture has been arrested for allegedly abandoning his child and causing death after his 2-year-old son fell into a washing machine and suffocated in September last year.

The unemployed father, Yamaguchi Yuki, was home alone with his son, Yamaguchi Aoai, when the boy fell headfirst into a cylindrical washing machine about 90 centimeters tall that was awaiting disposal.

Police said Yamaguchi knew his son was trapped but took no action for 20 minutes. He called emergency services only after realizing the boy was not breathing. Aoai was later pronounced dead at hospital.

An autopsy found no visible external injuries, with the cause of death determined as suffocation from being stuck in a cramped position for an extended period.

Police said there were no prior reports of child abuse involving the family, and child protection centers had no records. They are investigating why the father delayed rescue despite being aware of the situation.