A nine-year-old boy has died after he was found by his stepdad hanging by the neck from a tree swing.

The boy, who was not named, was found tangled up in the swing rope in the town of Cianorte in the Brazilian state of Parana on Sunday, 17th October.

The news site G1 reported that the boy’s stepdad, who was not named, was returning home after visiting his mother at her home when he found the youngster hanging from the rope.

The boy’s mum was taking a rest in her bedroom at the time and did not notice the incident unfolding.

According to family and neighbours, the boy often played on the rope, which was tied to a tree and used as a swing.

The emergency services were called and paramedics performed cardiac massage on the boy and managed to stabilise him.

He was transferred to the local Hospital Sao Paulo where he suffered a heart attack shortly after arriving. Despite doctors’ best efforts to revive him, he died.

The Centre for the Protection of Child and Teenage Crime Victims (Nucria) has launched an investigation into the incident.

Police chief Jonas Eduardo Peixoto do Amaral told G1: “Everything suggests it was an accident, the rope must have wrapped around the child’s neck, causing asphyxia and cardiac arrest.

“Nucria will hear the parents and other witnesses in the coming days to have greater certainty over the facts.”

The investigation is ongoing.