Canadian Brothers age 5 and 7 gets strangled in their sleep by a Phython

Locals in the northeastern city of Campbelltown have rallied around the family of the boys, who were found dead by pet shop owner Jean-Claude Savoie early Monday morning Canadian time.

Police confirmed that Noah Barthe, five, and seven-year-old brother Connor, were killed by the escaped African rock python.

"The preliminary investigation has determined that the two boys were strangled by the snake," Royal Canadian Mounted Police Constable Julie Rogers-Marsh told the Toronto Star.

Tributes for the boys and their mother Mandy Trecartin have poured onto Facebook as the Campbelltown community of about 7500, offered its condolences.

"There are no words to say that could sum up the joy and They were loved by every hand that touched them and the heavens said it all today as even the angels were crying," she said, referring to the rain that coincided with their deaths on Monday.

"This is a tragedy," deputy mayor Ian Comeau said.

"The city is in shock."

Police were called to the Campbelltown exotic pet shop about 6.30am shortly after Mr Savoie's grim discovery.

An audibly distressed Mr Savoie told Global News the two boys were his "best friend's kids" and he considered them family.

He said the boys often camped out in the living room and constructed forts out of mattresses and cushions.

"I thought they were sleeping until I seen (sic) the hole in the ceiling," he said.

"Everything had fallen, and I turned the lights on and I seen (sic) this horrific scene."

Mr Savoie said it appeared the snake had fallen through a grill in the ventilation system into the living room where Noah and Connor slept below.

"I can't believe this is real. I feel like they're my kids," he said.

The African rock python, which Mr Savoie obtained in 2000 and has since been handed over to authorities, is Africa's largest non-venomous snake.

While it is uncommon for the species to target humans, there is at least one record of an African rock python strangling an 11-year-old boy and swallowing the child whole in South Africa.love they brought us all," Melissa Ellis, a family friend, said.