FANNIN COUNTY, Texas — A North Texas household is mourning the deaths of three younger brothers who drowned after falling via the ice on a frozen pond Monday, in line with the Fannin County Sheriff’s Workplace.
Deputies stated the incident occurred on a personal pond off Rec Highway #3, simply exterior Bonham, roughly 70 miles northeast of Dallas. The pond is positioned about 100 toes from the home the place the household had been staying, separated by an embankment.
Authorities stated a number of state and native businesses responded after receiving studies that three kids had gone via the ice. The boys’ mom, Cheyenne Hangaman, instructed investigators she was exterior along with her kids on the time and had warned them to keep away from the pond.
In response to Hangaman, her youngest son tried to slip or “ice skate” on the frozen floor earlier than falling via. His two older brothers entered the water in an effort to rescue him.
Hangaman described a determined try to achieve her sons however stated the ice continued to interrupt beneath her. “There was three of them and solely one in all me,” she instructed CBS Information Texas, explaining why she was unable to drag them to security.
First responders and a close-by neighbor managed to drag the 2 older boys, ages 8 and 9, from the water. Life-saving efforts have been carried out earlier than they have been transported to a hospital, the place each later died. The youngest baby, age 6, was recovered after he didn’t resurface through the preliminary rescue.
Whereas authorities didn’t launch the kids’s names, members of the family recognized them as Howard Doss, 6; Kaleb Doss, 8; and EJ Doss, 9. All three have been college students in Bonham Impartial College District.
Hangaman stated she realized one thing was flawed when her daughter ran to her, screaming that the boys had gone into the water. She stated the freezing temperatures shortly overwhelmed them.
“I attempted to battle for my youngsters’ life,” Hangaman stated. “I needed to watch them wrestle, and I couldn’t assist them.”
She described her sons as energetic and loving, every with distinct personalities and desires.
Bonham ISD introduced that counselors could be obtainable for college kids and workers because the neighborhood grieves the loss. In a press release to households, the district stated it was “devastated by this unimaginable loss” and prolonged condolences to everybody affected.
A neighbor who heard the requires assist ran to the scene and assisted within the rescue effort. Hangaman stated she was pulled from the water with the assistance of a rope and believes she might not have survived with out that help.
The neighbor was later recognized as Bonham ISD Athletic Director and head soccer coach John Ramsey. He declined interviews however launched a written assertion emphasizing assist for the grieving household.
“Proper now, all focus needs to be on supporting a household that’s struggling unimaginable loss,” Ramsey stated, including that he merely responded after listening to somebody name for assist and did what anybody close by would hope to do.
As funeral preparations are made, Hangaman stated she hopes her household’s tragedy serves as a warning to others.
“It will probably occur to you,” she stated. “Maintain your youngsters tight and all the time inform them you’re keen on them.”
A GoFundMe has been created to assist the household cowl funeral bills. The Fannin County Sheriff’s Workplace stated the investigation stays ongoing, and no info has been launched concerning potential fees.
