A North Texas mother is mourning the unfathomable loss of her three sons after they reportedly drowned in a frozen pond near the home where the family had been staying.
According to Fannin County Sheriff’s Office, the horrifying incident occurred on Monday, January 26. Authorities responded to a call over three brothers who had fallen through the ice on a private pond just outside of Bonham, which lies approximately 70 miles northeast of Dallas.
Mom of six Cheyenne Hangaman said she was outside with her children, playing, recalling “it all happened in an instant.” As per CBS News, Cheyenne said she had warned the boys to keep away from the frozen pond, but they didn’t listen to her.
Her youngest son tried to “ice skate” on the pond and fell through into the freezing water below.
What happened next is every parent’s worst nightmare. Two of Cheyenne’s older children jumped into the water to try and save their sibling – soon, they were in desperate trouble as well.
“I started running toward the pond and I jumped in. I tried to save them while also trying to keep myself alive,” Cheyenne said.
“It was one of me and three of them, and they all needed me at one time. I just couldn’t… I couldn’t save them.”
“I tried to pick one up and put them on the ice,” the grieving mother told CBS News Texas. “It would just break and keep falling in.”
Ultimately, first responders and a neighbor pulled the two older boys, aged 8 and 9, from the water and began life‑saving measures. They were then rushed to hospital, where they sadly died. The youngest child, 6, did not resurface; his body was recovered after a search.
Family members identified the victims as 6‑year‑old Howard Doss, 8‑year‑old Kaleb Doss and 9‑year‑old EJ Doss.
Cheyenne revealed that she first knew something was wrong when her daughter ran over to tell her that her brothers were in the water.
Hangaman said she realized something was wrong when her daughter ran to her yelling that the boys had gone into the water.
“When I seen them, they were struggling, and I know their bodies were already in shock,” the mom recalled. “The water was freezing cold.”
“I tried to fight for my kids’ life. I had to watch them struggle and drown, and I couldn’t help them.”
Cheyenne might very well have lost her own life were it not for the actions of a neighbor who came to her aid.
“He said he heard the screaming or the call for help and came running,” she said. “My friend had a horse rope, and he pulled me out with it.”
Rest in peace, Howard, Kaleb, and EJ Doss.
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