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Daycare locked down after man found impaled by pole

A daycare in a North York elementary school was under lockdown this morning after a bizarre incident in which a man was found dangling from a tree and impaled by a metal stake.

A parent dropping off a child at Roywood Public School - in the York Mills Rd. and Victoria Park Ave. area - called 911 after spotting the man hanging from a small tree at the back of the school around 7:30 a.m., Toronto Police say.

When emergency crews arrived on the scene, they found the man, believed to be in his 40s, impaled through his "rectal area" by one of the metal posts that were supporting the young tree at its base.

Initial reports indicated the man was also tied up, but police said that was not the case.

The injured man was bleeding badly, but he was conscious and able to talk.

He claimed he had climbed the approximately five-metre-tall tree to escape from two or three muggers, Police said. The would-be bandits then allegedly yanked him out of the tree and he was impaled as he fell to the ground.

Police would not confirm or deny reports indicating the man's pants were around his ankles when he was located.

However, they admit they are skeptical of the man's story.

Officers are canvassing residents of the surrounding area looking for witnesses.

There were no classes at the public school because parent/teacher interviews were being conducted. But a privately-run daycare within the school was open.

The windows of the daycare, which look out onto the schoolyard and the tree, were covered as emergency crews cut the man free from the metal post. The schoolyard was sealed off and the daycare remained under lockdown for about an hour.

The man, whose name was not released, was taken to Sunnybrook hospital, where he underwent surgery for serious but not life-threatening injuries.

Police said they hope to know more once they are able to speak to the man.

Anyone with information is urged to call investigators at 33 Division at 416-808-3301.