Three children found unresponsive in a freezer have died, according to deputies

The Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office said Sunday evening it received a 911 call from 173rd Place about three children found not breathing.

Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Suwannee County Fire Rescue went to the home where family members were performing CPR on the children. Fire rescue transported the children to an area hospital where the three children died.

The Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office said it has asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to assist their agency in processing the scene.

The Sheriff's Office said the children, 1, 4, and 6 years old, were playing outside, when an adult female watching them went inside to use the restroom.

During that time, for unknown reasons, the children climbed inside of a chest freezer, according to the Sheriff's Office. The freezer was new to the property and was not yet plugged in or brought inside, the Sheriff's Office said.

The Sheriff's Office said, when the woman went back outside and couldn't find the children, she woke up the other adult female at home. Together they searched the property and the surrounding areas and eventually the chest freezer.

According to Suwanee County Sheriff Sam St. John, the mother and the grandmother searched for about twenty to 30 minutes for the children.

According to the Sheriff's Office, the women said all three children were inside the freezer, not breathing, and that's when they began resuscitative efforts and called 911.

St. John said that the children could have been in the freezer for up to 45 minutes during the search.

The Sheriff's Office said the freezer had an after-market hasp on the lid to secure a padlock.

The Sheriffs Office said, "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 the Florida Department of Children and Families has been notified and the investigation is still ongoing.

The Sheriff's Office said foul play is not suspected at this time.

According to the St. John, the incident was a tragic accident but several things could have been done to keep it from happening.

Bob Biggs lives down the street from the property where this happened.

"Early in the afternoon, I think it was, I saw the two little ones jumping up and down on the trampoline, and that was the last time I saw them," Biggs said.

Biggs saw that afternoon of play turn into a frantic search.

"I saw an older lady out yelling for kids," Biggs said.

Freeman Mask said neighbors are planning a benefit to help this family.

"Maybe we’ll be able to help do something for them, encourage other neighbors to chip in, maybe do a little something community-wide for them," Mask said.

After all, this whole community is mourning the loss of three little lives.

"I’m a retired police officer, so I’ve seen a lot of stuff, and to know that three little kids died over there, that’s hard," Biggs said.  "That’s tough to take."

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Cox Media Group