A Texas mother is mourning the loss of her three sons in a tragic accident that took place after the winter storm that has impacted most of the country hit their community.
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According to a statement by the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office, local and state authorities responded to a call on Monday, Jan. 26, after brothers, Howard, 6, Kaleb, 8, and EJ, 9 fell through a frozen pond near a friend’s home in Bonham, a city nearly 60 miles northeast of Dallas. First responders were able to pull the 8 and 9-year-olds from the water, who later died at the hospital. Sadly, 6-year-old Howard’s body was recovered later after officials searched the pond.
In an interview with Dallas-Ft. Worth Fox Affiliate KDFW, the boys’ mother, Cheyenne Hangaman, said despite her warnings to stay away, 6-year-old Howard fell into the pond when the ice broke beneath him. His older brothers went to try to save him while their sister ran to get help. Hangaman said she did everything she could to save her sons, but she “locked up” as she struggled to rescue them and keep herself alive in the freezing water.
“It was one of me and three of them, and they all needed me at one time. I just couldn’t…I couldn’t save them. I knew that they were already gone, and I needed to get myself together for the other two that watched the whole thing,” she said.
Local high school football coach, John Ramsey, was nearby and tried to help rescue Hangaman and her sons. Although he didn’t want to be interviewed, he released a statement to KDFW in support of the family during their time of crisis.
“I was nearby helping a neighbor when I heard someone calling for help and went to assist,” he said. “Any person in that situation would have done the same thing. I was simply close enough to help in a moment of crisis, doing what I hope anyone would do for someone in need.”
Hangaman told KDFW that she’s not surprised her older sons died trying to save their younger brother when he was in trouble.
“They were mean to each other, but once something happens, it goes down there, right there, for each other,” she said.
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