Five young cousins found dead in disused freezer

The grim discovery was made by the cousins' grandmother in Kakamas, South Africa

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Five young cousins were found suffocated after a disused freezer they were playing in accidentally locked while they were inside.

The children, aged between three and seven years old, were found on Tuesday in Kakamas, a town in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, according to the Sowetan news site.

Police have opened an inquest into the case.

Major Dimakatso Mooi, of the Northern Cape police, said: “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 cousins reportedly often played in the abandoned freezer.