A seven-year-old boy who froze to death may have been outside in near-freezing temperatures for some time before his body was found, claims the Birmingham Mail.
Emergency services have confirmed the death of the boy, who the Mail says died from hypothermia.
Police have arrested a 56-year-old man on suspicion of wilfully ill-treating a child, and a 35-year-old woman on suspicion of wilfully neglecting a child.
They have both been released while police investigate the death in Birmingham, UK. A post-mortem is due to take place on Friday, Dec. 1.
Ambulances were called early on Sunday, Nov. 26 but were unable to save Hakeem Hussain, 7. He was declared dead at the scene.
West Midlands Ambulance service told the Birmingham Mail: “Two ambulances and a paramedic officer attended the scene and arrived to find a boy in cardiac arrest. Sadly, nothing could be done to save the child and he was confirmed dead on scene.”
‘Rest in peace, love Dad’
Flowers and cards have been placed outside the house in tribute to the boy, according to the Birmingham Mail. One card simply reads: “Rest in peace, love Dad.”
Another reads: “To our baby Hakeem. Rest in peace our angel. Forever and always in our hearts, love always from your aunties.”
“Rest in peace, love Dad.” https://t.co/uwIMg9zfbP
— Birmingham Mail (@birminghammail) November 29, 2017
A neighbour told the Mail how “shocked” he was by the death. Asked about the man who lived at the house, he said: “He lived there alone, but now and then various relatives came to stay with him and the last time I saw him he said his niece and her son were coming to stay. I was told he’d gone into hospital so didn’t know the child had died and he’d been arrested. I can’t believe it and am totally shocked.”
Another neighbour said: “I never heard anything from inside the house, they were always very quiet. The couple of times I saw the child he looked happy, healthy, and well-fed and had no sign of injury.”
Pupils at Hakeem’s nearby school have been offered counselling and headteacher Julie Wright wrote to parents following the death.
She wrote: “This loss to our academy community is sure to raise many emotions and concerns for our staff and pupils.
“We are working with Birmingham City Council to ensure that staff and pupils have access to grief and bereavement counsellors.
“We are saddened by the loss to our academy community and will make every effort to support you and your child as you need.”
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