Three young kids in the US have died after reportedly climbing into an abandoned unplugged freezer and getting trapped.
The bodies of two girls and one boy – aged one, four and six – were found in a chest freezer left outside a home in Florida on Sunday 13 January, CNN reports.
The babysitter, reportedly one of the kids’ mothers, had gone inside the house to use the toilet when the children disappeared.
When she returned she was unable to find the youngsters, and woke up another woman to help search the property, Metro News reports.
The pair then opened the freezer and discovered the trio, who were unresponsive.
Frantic family members began CPR before calling emergency services. Paramedics were unable to resuscitate the children.
"Upon further inspection of the freezer, an aftermarket hasp had been installed on the lid in order to secure a padlock on it," the local sheriff's office said in a Facebook post.
"It’s believed at this time that when the children entered the freezer and the lid closed, the hasp fell shut, trapping the children inside.
“There was no padlock on the freezer."
Local officials are investigating the children’s death, although foul play isn’t suspected, The Sun reports.
Sources: CNN, Metro News, The Sun