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An RSPCA worker locked himself inside a car for 25 minutes to show what dogs experience when left in hot vehicles - with temperatures soaring above 57C and the experiment proving just how quickly conditions can become deadly

As temperatures continue to soar across the UK, an RSPCA worker wanted to show what it's like for a dog trapped inside a hot car - and says he was 'baking' after just a few minutes. Chris O'Brien, from RSPCA Cymru, deliberately locked himself inside his car for 25 minutes on a warm day outside the charity's Cardiff office to highlight just how dangerous the situation can become for pets.

Armed with a digital thermometer and stopwatch, Chris filmed himself throughout the challenge, documenting both the rapidly rising temperature inside the vehicle and the physical impact it was having on his body. The experiment started with the temperature inside the car at 23.3C. But within just five minutes, it had rocketed to 35.1C.

By the 10 minute mark, the temperature had climbed to 43.6C, with Chris saying he could feel his heart beating faster and his breathing becoming heavier.

He said: "I am baking. It is so, so hot in here. I can't even begin to tell you.

"Obviously I'm sweating a lot. Dogs regulate their body temperature very differently to humans, so they would struggle even more in these conditions."

RSPCA hot car experiment: How fast temperatures rise inside locked car

Chris also pointed out that while he knew he could leave the car whenever he wanted, a dog wouldn't understand that - meaning they would likely become increasingly distressed, making the situation even more dangerous.

After 15 minutes, the temperature had reached 48.8C, before passing 50C just two minutes later.

"Everything in the car is absolutely boiling," he said. "I cannot imagine how a dog would feel."

By the end of the 25-minute challenge, the thermometer was showing a staggering 57.1C.

Chris added: "I cannot believe the impact this has had in such a short space of time. This is so dangerous. Never leave a dog in a hot car."

Dog heatstroke warnings and emergency RSPCA advice

The warning comes as forecasters predict another spell of hot weather across parts of the UK, with temperatures expected to climb into the 30Cs.

The RSPCA is reminding owners that leaving a dog in a parked car - even for a few minutes or with the windows slightly open - can quickly become fatal.

The charity says dogs cannot cool themselves down as effectively as humans, making them far more vulnerable to heatstroke.

If you spot a dog showing signs of distress in a hot car, the RSPCA advises calling 999 immediately, as the situation can become life-threatening in a matter of minutes.

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