Three children die after climbing into freezer in Florida

Three young children have tragically died after climbing into a chest freezer and becoming trapped while playing in the backyard. 

The three young children were playing outside in Florida when they climbed into an unplugged chest freezer and died when they could not get out, authorities say.

The children, aged one, four and six, could not be revived when they were found at a home in Live Oak in the state’s north, the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office said.

Unfortunately, all efforts to resuscitate the children were unsuccessful and all three children died, the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post.

The youngsters lived at the house with the grandmother of two of the children and the other child’s mother, officials said.

According to the Facebook post, one of the women went inside to use the toilet and could not find the children upon returning. The women searched the property and found the children in the freezer.

Upon further inspection of the freezer, an aftermarket hasp (a replacement slotted hinge fitted over a loop) had been installed on the lid in order to secure a padlock on it, the post reads.

It is 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.

The sheriff’s office said foul play was not suspected.