The Canterbury basketball community is offering its support to the family of a toddler who died after being run over at a Christchurch stadium carpark.
An ambulance was called to Cowles Stadium on Pages Rd in the suburb of Aranui about 4.40pm yesterday.
Firefighters attended to help perform CPR on the two-year-old, but he died at the scene.
Police are investigating. The boy's name has not been made public yet.
The Canterbury Basketball Association said all teams playing at the stadium today would wear black arm bands as a show of respect.
"We're very saddened about the terrible tragedy that occurred at Cowles Stadium earlier [yesterday], and our condolences are with the family who have lost their child," it posted on its Facebook page.
"As we are a part of the local community all teams playing at Cowles [today] will be supplied with black tape to wear on their arms in a show of support."
A member of the boy's family posted her thanks for the support.
Police said they had offered their deepest sympathy to the family during this difficult time.
A Christchurch City Council spokeswoman last night said the council did not know if the child had been inside the stadium before the incident or if he had been playing in a nearby playground.
Therefore she didn't want to comment, saying it was a matter for the police to investigate.
SafeKids Aotearoa director Ann Weaver said the incident was a tragedy.
"I do sympathise with the family for their loss and as well the driver," she said.
SafeKids Aotearoa has campaigned for drivers to be vigilant when reversing out of driveways if children are present. It was important to walk around your car before getting in to drive and the same message applied in carparks, she said.
"It's really important if you are in any situation, before you get in the car you walk around to see if there are any children," she said.
"People don't realise what they can't see when they are in a car. If you're reversing, you wouldn't see a 2-year-old behind you for up to 10m."
She said it was fortunate children were rarely hit by a car in a carpark but it did happen from time to time.
Cowles Stadium in Christchurch's Aranui is a purpose-built, standalone indoor stadium.
The stadium is run by the Christchurch City Council with basketball, netball, volleyball and badminton courts for hire. It has an on-site carpark.
