BONHAM, Texas (AP) — A devastating incident involving three brothers—ages 6, 8, and 9—has left the community in shock after they drowned in a pond while staying at a friend's house. The tragedy occurred during a massive winter storm impacting much of the U.S., leading to dangerously icy conditions.
They were just screaming, telling me to help them, said their mother, Cheyenne Hangaman, who bravely jumped into the frigid water in a desperate attempt to save her children. I watched all of them struggle, struggle to stay above the water. I watched all of them fight.
The young boys fell into the icy water north of Bonham, Texas, which is close to the Oklahoma border. First responders managed to rescue the two older brothers, but recovering the youngest required an extensive search.
Hangaman and her children had been warned against approaching the pond, but chaos ensued when her youngest daughter informed her that her brothers were in trouble. She rushed to the scene, but the thick ice made rescue attempts perilous.
I ran across as much ice as I could to get to them and eventually ended up falling in myself, Hangaman recounted. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t move. By that time, I knew that my kids were already gone. So I just had to try to fight for my life at that point. A nearby man was able to assist her by throwing a rope to her for extraction.
All three boys were students at the Bonham Independent School District, which was closed due to the extreme weather affecting the area. Superintendent Lance Hamlin expressed deep condolences to the family and the community, stating, We are devastated by this unimaginable loss, and our thoughts are with the family, friends, and all who knew and loved these children. Hangaman described her sons as exuberant and full of life, leaving deep sorrow in their absence.
As local authorities investigate, reports indicate that the recent cold snap has contributed to over 40 fatalities across several states. The pond's ice remains a grim reminder of the day as the small community mourns.
