Two young children, ages 2 and 4, who were siblings, were swept away in the recent San Bernardino tragedy.
On Tuesday, May 7, a heartbreaking incident unfolded in California's San Bernardino Mountains as a mother's efforts to rescue her young children were thwarted by swiftly flowing water.
According to authorities from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office, the tragic event occurred around 1:45 p.m. when a woman brought her 2-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter to enjoy an afternoon at the Thurman Flats Picnic Area, situated alongside Mill Creek, a significant tributary of the Santa Ana River.
San Bernardino Mountains Tragedy
As the tragic events unfolded, the mother was momentarily occupied attending to her son, while her daughter ventured downstream, the department revealed.
"The mother and her children were playing near the river with rapid water moving downstream," stated the sheriff's office in a press statement.
Shortly after 3 p.m., deputies detailed how the mother, engrossed in caring for her son, witnessed her daughter swept away by the current. Despite her frantic search for the missing child, she returned to find her son also absent, presumably carried downstream.
The release elaborated that in her desperate search, she climbed back to the picnic area and sought assistance from another family to locate the children, but their efforts proved futile.
Around 4 p.m., teams including deputies from the Yucaipa Station, the sheriff's Air Rescue team, Mentone Station County Fire personnel, and U.S. Forest Service crews initiated a coordinated search for the siblings.
By approximately 4:39 p.m., responders discovered the 2-year-old boy near the river's edge, and shortly after 5 p.m., they located the 4-year-old girl in the same vicinity, according to the sheriff's office.
Despite extensive life-saving attempts by first responders, both children were pronounced dead upon arrival at local hospitals, the release confirmed.
The San Bernardino County coroner's office will conduct further investigations to ascertain the precise cause and manner of the children's passing.
As of the latest update, the victims' identities and origins remain undisclosed. Witnesses to the incident are urged to contact the sheriff's office with any information.
Two Children Swept Away
The identities of the children and their mother remained undisclosed at the time of reporting.
Mill Creek, a significant tributary of the Santa Ana River, cascades down rocky terrain from the towering peaks of the San Bernardino range, which experienced substantial snowfall of up to 199 inches (505 centimeters) during the recent winter season.
Authorities in California issue frequent warnings about the potential hazards posed by the state's water bodies during spring, when snowmelt fills rivers and streams with fast-flowing, icy-cold water.
The sudden cold shock can incapacitate even proficient swimmers, while hidden dangers such as boulders, branches, and debris can pose threats beneath the water's surface, as highlighted by the California Office of Emergency Services.
Amy Palmer, a spokesperson for the California Office of Emergency Services, emphasized the lethal nature of swift water, particularly as warmer weather ensues after heavy snowfall in mountainous regions, leading to heightened flows in rivers and streams.
She stressed the imperative for Californians to comprehend these risks and exercise caution whenever near water.
Local public safety agencies echo these sentiments, urging people to exercise vigilance around water bodies.
In the southern Sierra Nevada, the Kern County Sheriff's Office takes a direct approach, maintaining a stark tally of fatalities along the infamous Kern River since 1968 on a roadside sign.
Recent updates in May revealed an increase from 317 to 325 deaths, signifying eight tragic incidents between 2022 and 2023 alone.
