God, how could you ever recover as a parent?
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/stor...sley/86119624/
A 3-year-old boy died Sunday afternoon, a day after he was found in the bottom of a backyard swimming pool with his twin brother, the Anderson County Coroner's Office said.
Caleb Marcengill, of Westminster, was pronounced dead Saturday afternoon, Deputy Coroner Don McCown said. His brother, Ezekiel Marcengill, who was on life support, died Sunday afternoon, McCown said.
Their deaths were ruled accidental drownings, the Coroner's Office.
The boys and their family attended a social gathering Saturday at a residence on Pisgah Road near Easley. After lunch about 12:30 p.m., a group of children went outside to play, McCown said.
Deputies and emergency medical personnel responded to the residence about 2:20 p.m. after the twins' older sister found them under water. The boys were submerged for an estimated 15 to 20 minutes, McCown said.
Family members attempted CPR until authorities arrived. Caleb was pronounced dead at 3:21 p.m. Saturday, the Coroner's Office said. Ezekiel died about 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
Their father, Brandon Marcengill, urged everyone to hug their loved ones.
"Hold them tight," he told the Anderson Independent Mail on Father's Day. "You protect your kids as best as you can, they reach an age where they can run around and play. How do you defend against everything?"
A key is needed to unlock the gate for access to the pool. The boys' older sister used the key when she found her siblings. McCown said it appears the twins crawled under the fence or possibly climbed over it.
"There's a pretty good gap on one side of the fence and pretty much an adult could've crawled under it," McCown said.
It was a 4-foot pool, McCown said, and the water level was at 3 feet, 8 inches.
The family told authorities the boys were just learning how to swim. The boys previously used swim aids when in water, McCown said.
The family said maybe the boys believed they could swim.
There were no signs of foul play, McCown said.