In brief
Three brothers aged 6, 8, and 9 died in Texas during a winter storm after falling through a frozen pond. Their mother, Cheyenne Hangaman, revealed her desperate attempts to rescue them while battling the freezing temperatures. The incident occurred as schools were closed due to severe weather conditions. Local authorities are expressing condolences as the community grapples with this heartbreaking loss.
BONHAM, Texas (AP) — In a tragic incident that highlights the dangers of extreme winter weather, three brothers aged 6, 8, and 9 died after falling through an icy pond in Bonham, Texas. Their mother, Cheyenne Hangaman, said she jumped into the freezing water to try to save them but was unsuccessful.
They were just screaming, telling me to help them, Hangaman shared with heartbreak. I watched all of them struggle, fight to stay above the water. It was devastating. The boys perished on Monday after falling into the pond located north of Bonham, a rural community near the Oklahoma border.
First responders managed to rescue the two older siblings from the water, while an extensive search was required to recover the youngest brother. Hangaman had previously warned her children to steer clear of the pond, but tragedy struck when they wandered toward it.
I ran across as much ice as I could to get to them and eventually ended up falling in myself, she recalled, describing the shock of the freezing water. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't move, she added, noting the panic as she felt her children slipping away.
The Bonham Independent School District had canceled classes for the day due to the frigid weather, which includes icy roads and dangerous conditions sweeping through the U.S. The school district remains closed on Tuesday as the community mourns the loss of the young boys.
