Siblings, ages 3 and 4, found dead after drowning in small pond, California cops say

Two young siblings were found dead after drowning in a shallow pond, California authorities told news outlets.

A 4-year-old boy and his 3-year-old sister were playing outside their Lake Hughes property on Monday, April 18, when they disappeared, a neighbor told FOX LA. The siblings didn’t return when they were called in for dinner.

Their mom started to search for her children and found them unresponsive in a small pond close to the home about an hour later, ABC 7 reported.

The pond is believed to be about 2 to 3 feet deep, according to KTLA.

The boy and girl were airlifted to a hospital, according to the Los Angeles Times. They weren’t breathing when first responders arrived.

The siblings were both pronounced dead at the hospital, according to KTLA. There were no signs of trauma on either child.

“Everything indicates at this point that it was a tragic, accidental drowning,” Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Charles Calderaro told KTLA.

Child Protective Services and the sheriff’s office are investigating the incident, ABC 7 reported.

“Just keep a close eye on your children,” Calderaro told FOX LA. “This was a large 12-acre property. The pond was very shallow but with small children like that, it can be a matter of seconds.”

Lake Hughes is about 60 miles north of Los Angeles.

This story was originally published April 19, 2022 at 1:51 PM with the headline "Siblings, ages 3 and 4, found dead after drowning in small pond, California cops say."