In Southern California’s San Bernardino mountain area on Tuesday, May 7th, a young brother and sister were tragically swept away by the swift river while playing. Their mother attempted to rescue them but unfortunately, the incident ended in tragedy.
According to USA Today, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office reported at 1:45 pm that a woman was picnicking with her 2-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter at Thurman Flats picnic area above Mill Creek, a major tributary of the Santa Ana River.
“The mother and her children were playing by the riverbank when the water flow was swift,” the Sheriff’s Office wrote in a press release. Just after 3 pm, as the mother was attending to her son, her daughter was suddenly swept away by the water. The woman hurried downstream to look for her daughter but couldn’t find her. When she returned to her son, she discovered that he was also missing, likely swept downstream.
The statement said, “After frantic searching, the mother walked to the picnic area and contacted another family for assistance in searching for the children, but they were still not found.”
Shortly after 4 pm, officers from the Yucaipa Station, the Sheriff’s Air Rescue Team, personnel from the Mentone Station County Fire, and the U.S. Forest Service began assisting in the search for the missing children.
Around 4:39 pm, rescue personnel found the 2-year-old boy by the riverbank and shortly after 5 pm, they found the 4-year-old girl as well. The siblings were transported to a local hospital, and despite attempts at life-saving measures, they were pronounced dead.
The San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office will determine the exact causes and manners of death for the two children. As of Wednesday, May 8th, the office had not released the victims’ names or where they were from.
Any witnesses to this incident are asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office in the county. ◇