A Florida community was thrown into mourning as the dead bodies of three minors, aged one, four, and six years old, were found inside a freezer.

The children were playing outside when a female adult watching them went inside to use the restroom, sheriff officials said.

According to reports, the one and six-year-olds are brother and sister and the 4-year-old is a friend,

According to investigators, when the woman returned, the children were gone.

The children had climbed inside a chest freezer, which was new to the property and was not yet plugged in or brought inside.

According to Suwanee County Sheriff Sam St. John, the two women, identified as the mother and the grandmother of the children, searched for up to 30 minutes and possibly as long as 45 minutes before finding the victims.

When they did locate them inside the freezer, they were not breathing. The women began resuscitative efforts and called 911.

“It is believed at this time, that when the children entered the freezer, and the lid closed, the hasp (lid fastener) fell shut, trapping the children inside. There was no padlock on the freezer,” according to a sheriff department news release.

Investigators said foul play is not suspected at this time, and St. John believes the deaths were a tragic accident, but the investigation is still ongoing.

TRAGIC: Three children found dead in a freezer in #SuwanneeCounty. Just spoke with the sheriff about this horrific case. He believes it’s a tragic accident, but they have much more to learn. @ActionNewsJax will have more, live at 5. Details ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/8FkcjHwQM0

— Russell Colburn (@RussellANjax) January 14, 2019

.@ActionNewsJax has learned this is the property involved. You can see children’s toys in the yard. The Sheriff tells me the 1 & 6-year-olds are brother and sister and the 4-year-old is a friend, but that they all lived here. pic.twitter.com/rMJ8OIzEkp

— Russell Colburn (@RussellANjax) January 14, 2019

The mother of two of the children involved tells me in part, “It’s a horrible accident and tragedy…This is a family matter…The worst one I and my family will endure.” @ActionNewsJax

— Russell Colburn (@RussellANjax) January 15, 2019

NEW: @ActionNewsJax just obtained this picture of the freezer where the 3 kids were found unresponsive. The Sheriff estimates it’s about 29 inches wide, & says the children were inside 45 minutes or more. We’re LIVE at 10. pic.twitter.com/A8qUsjVl89

— Russell Colburn (@RussellANjax) January 15, 2019

It’s a heartbreaking story for anyone to see and hear. The freezer where 3 children were found unresponsive is in the yard right next to their red wagon. ? @ActionNewsJax has the latest on the investigation at 10… pic.twitter.com/HPznlOQvbD

— Russell Colburn (@RussellANjax) January 15, 2019