We all know how attractive a hand of poker can be but for one American gentleman his desire to keep playing has landed him in jail and for good reason.

 His curiosity to play poker led to him leaving his children waiting in a parked car in the blazing heat.

Terrence Bowman Davis had entered the poker room at St Johns Greyhound Park on Race Track Road while his two sons aged seven and three sat inside his Ford Taurus in the car park 100 yards away in 93 degree weather.

According to the St Johns County Sheriff's Office report, a passer-by saw the boys and called the authorities.

When officers arrived on the scene, Mr Davis told them that he had only been inside about 15 minutes, just long enough to play a few hands.

The boys' mother was called to collect the children while curious Mr Davis was charged with two counts of child neglect and sent to St Johns County jail.

Mr Davis, who has only lived in the area for two months, explained that he was on his way to Julington Creek and passed the race track, never having noticed it before.

"I just stopped, really, to take a peek inside and see what it was about," Davis said after his release. "I was just looking around. They said, 'you want to try it out?'"

Luckily, neither of the boys was harmed, but Davis' case will be reviewed by the State Attorney's Office, which could charge him under the neglect statutes

"I'm just very, very remorseful," Mr Davis said while his wife, Susan, said rather predictably "I'm angry."

Meanwhile, State Attorney John Tanner said his office would make a common-sense decision on the case. "We've got to presume the parents or caregivers are not trying to hurt their children, Mr Tanner said. Although the law states children should not be left in cars for 15-minute periods, he added: "It doesn't mean someone can't run into a convenience store and grab something and run out."

Should the same unfortunate occurrence happen in the UK at the moment the likelihood is that the vehicle parked outside would sail into another county as flood waters continue to play havoc across the country.