A 3-year-old Canadian boy died Thursday after straying out into the cold from his family’s apartment in the wee hours of the morning wearing nothing but a T-shirt, boots and a diaper, according to the Huffington Post.
Elijah Marsh was pronounced dead at the city’s North York General Hospital soon after he was found during a search by law enforcement and volunteers, the news outlet writes. The small child was reportedly found huddled near an air-conditioning unit—just 1,000 feet away from where he reportedly slipped out of his family's Toronto apartment. He may have spent up to six hours in frigid temperatures on a morning when temperatures dipped to minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit, some reports say.
The ordeal reportedly began after his family awoke to find Elijah missing about 7:30 a.m. Thursday after putting him to bed on Wednesday, the report says. It’s unclear how he opened the door and got out of the apartment.
After a frantic searching, he was found at 10:15 a.m. by volunteers and police. Police released surveillance-camera footage showing a boy resembling Elijah leaving his family’s apartment building about 4:05 a.m. Thursday, the report notes.
"No, no, no," Elijah's grandmother said through tears on Thursday afternoon, according to the Huffington Post. Longtime family friend Milli Dyer told the Canadian Press that the Elijah was "very energetic and runs around all over the place."
A crowdfunding campaign was set up at Tilt to help Elijah's family cover funeral costs. As of Sunday morning, $165,423.44 in donations had poured in from more than 4,000 contributors.
"Because of you, we've now raised over $150,000," campaign organizer Justin Kozuch posted on the page Saturday. "I'm so humbled at the generosity of everyone who donated and supported this cause. Thank you."
Read more at the Huffington Post.