Police: 18-month-old twins drown in northwest Oklahoma City pool
OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Twin toddlers are dead after investigators say they drowned in a swimming pool. Safe Kids OKC Metro says this is a heartbreaking event that highlights an issue they're passionate about: keeping kids safe around water.
Oklahoma City police tell Fox 25 this involved an 18-month-old boy and girl. It happened around 10:45 a.m. on Thursday.
Police say what happened in the 12000 block of Cobblestone Parkway, near NW 122nd and Council, appears to be a tragic accident.
According to fire officials, a parent found the kids in a swimming pool and took them out of it before crews arrived.
First responders took the children to a hospital, which is where they were later pronounced dead.
"I just want to send the family my sincere condolences," Injury Prevention Coordinator for Trauma at OU Health Laura Gamino said. "From Safe Kids Oklahoma City Metro and Oklahoma Children's Hospital, [we're] very, very sorry to hear this. It's just tragic."
While Fox 25 still doesn't know the full details behind this incident, Gamino says this serves as a reminder.
"Anything can happen in an instant."
She recommends anyone with a pool install a fence at least four feet high with a gate that children can't easily open.
"Children are attracted to water, and toddlers won't have the skills to be able to help themselves get out of water."
Gamino says drowning is the number one cause of unintentional death for children ages 1-4.
"Drowning is very sudden, and it's very silent. Sometimes people have an idea that a child will have trouble in the water and be screaming, but they can't because their mouth is full of water. So it's very silent, and that's one of the scariest things about it."
Gamino says it's truly devastating what happened this morning.
The children's names have not been released yet, as this is an ongoing investigation.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
