HOLLYWOOD, FLA. (WSVN) - Two children along with their father have been pronounced dead at the hospital after they were found unresponsive inside a Hollywood home’s swimming pool.
The investigation occurred at a home along South Highland Drive, Thursday afternoon, at around 3:30 p.m.
Police and Hollywood Fire Rescue said the mother discovered the three victims in the backyard pool.
“When officers arrived on scene, they found three people who were unresponsive. It was an adult and two children,” said Hollywood Police spokesperson Deanna Bettineschi. “Officers immediately began to render aid, and they were taken to Memorial Regional Hospital.”
The children were 5 and 2 years old.
7SkyForce flew high above as all three were rushed to the ER, where doctors performed live-saving measures, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
Neighbors on Friday reacted to the heartbreaking news.
“It looks like they are a normal family, and they always are taking care of the kids,” said neighbor Amparo Kostyo. “I don’t know what happened.”
7News spoke to the neighbor of the family who said that they have five children, and one of them had just left for college.
Police confirmed four children lived in the home. They said their mother was the one who found the victims in the pool and called 911.
7SkyForce captured the mother on the phone as she stood in the backyard, visibly emotional. Moments later, two other children were seen walking with backpacks, likely getting home from school, as police officers pulled them aside.
“When an adult has an accident or something happens, OK, it’s an adult, but what’s crushing my heart is the kids,” said Kostyo.
Family members were seen gathering at the home throughout the day on Friday.
A neighbor said she has helped the family in the past and said that she can’t imagine what they are going through.
“It’s horrible, and I’m shaken right now. We’re cordial, and here and there we say hi to them. We really keep to ourselves in this neighborhood until something like this happens, unfortunately,” said the neighbor.
Friday afternoon, 7News cameras captured flowers and three candles on the family’s front porch.
The tragedy remains under investigation.
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