Baby freezes to death after being left in -7C on balcony for five hours
Criminal investigation launched after mother reportedly forgets about her son
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A seven-month old baby boy has frozen to death after his mother placed him in a buggy and left him outside in Russia.
The child was exposed to temperatures of -7C for around five hours in the far-east Khabarovsk region, officials said.
Local media said his 40-year-old mother placed him on the balcony so he could sleep in the fresh air in the town of Nikolayevsk-on-Amur.
She reportedly then forgot about him and only remembered to check on him five hours later.
He showed no signs of life when she brought him inside and could not be revived.
A criminal investigation has been launched into the death.
A preliminary report suggested the cause was hypothermia.
The region’s health ministry advised people not to leave young children outside unattended, the BBC reported.
“Always know where and with whom [your child] is,” the ministry said.
“Do not pass by if another child is in danger – in winter a child who is lost or injured on the street can very quickly become a victim of low temperatures.”
Leaving children to sleep outdoors is surprisingly common in some countries with colder climates. Some parents believe that children sleep better and for longer when left outside, and exposing children to the fresh air is thought to help prevent coughs and colds.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments