Toronto, Feb 20 (IANS/EFE) A three-year old boy froze to death in Canada after wandering from his home dressed in only a T-shirt, diaper and boots when the temperature outside was -28 degrees Centigrade, authorities said.
The frozen body of the child, named Elijah, was found around 10.30 a.m. Thursday in Toronto, six hours after he sneaked out of his house while his parents were asleep.
Police reported that Elijah was found curled up in the backyard of a nearby house.
Footage from a security camera at the building where the child lived showed him opening the door at around 4.30 a.m. when the temperature in the streets of Toronto was about -28 degrees Centigrade. At such temperature, human body parts exposed to the outdoors freeze in about 10 minutes.
Neither the authorities nor the child's family have given a reason for Elijah deciding to leave the house at such an early hour.
The boy's family and the Toronto police began a frantic search after he was found missing at around 7.30 a.m.
Dozens of policemen and volunteers took part in the search which ended with the child's body being found, an incident that moved the entire country.
"The loss of a child or grandchild is an unimaginable loss. We stand with the entire community in mourning," said Canada's Finance Minister Joe Oliver.
"Toronto's thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time," Toronto's Mayor John Tory wrote on Twitter.
This year, vast swathes of Canada are going through what is one of the coldest February months in history, with temperatures plunging to -37 degrees Centigrade.
During this winter, so far, Toronto has issued 26 warnings of extreme cold, when temperatures dropped below -30 degrees Centigrade.
Several people, including three homeless persons, have succumbed to the cold this winter in Toronto.
--IANS/EFE
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