5 Children die of suffocation after Freezer traps them inside

The bodies of five children were found inside a freezer at their grandmother’s home in Kakamas, Northern Cape, South Africa.

The cousins, aged between three and seven, were reportedly playing in abandoned deep freezer and become trapped after it locked itself.

As the doors were secured shut by latches that could only be opened by the handle on the outside, the kids were not able to set themselves free and suffocated. Their bodies were found by their distraught grandmother, who immediately called the police and ambulance but it was too late.


Northern Cape police spokeswoman Major Dimakatso Mooi commented on the incident: “The deceased are cousins. It is alleged that on 19 January 2016 at about 18:00‚ the grandmother of the children found them all suffocated inside an old freezer in their yard.

The police appeal to parents or children’s caretakers to take responsibility in ensuring their children’s safety at all times.  Children should not be left unattended and the yards must be cleared of old equipment not used and scraps that can cause harm to the children.”
The authorities have launched an investigation into the tragedy but they “don’t suspect any foul play”. Refrigerator death refers to death by suffocation in a refrigerator or similar device such as a freezer.

The problem with children suffocating in the appliances was well-known. A number of alternative methods of keeping freezer’s doors shut had been suggested. The magnetic mechanism is among them, it is used today instead of a latch.