PHOENIX, AZ – A tragic incident unfolded in Phoenix, Arizona, as a family is left devastated by the drowning of their three-year-old twin daughters. The unfortunate event occurred on Friday when the girls fell into a backyard swimming pool.
The father of the twins, identified as Valentina and Penelope Ruiz, made a desperate attempt to resuscitate them. Despite his frantic efforts, both girls were pronounced dead at the hospital.
Phoenix police, in a statement, indicated that the incident appears to be an accidental drowning. After an initial investigation, they found no suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident.
Emergency services responded swiftly, arriving at the residence on Lower Buckeye Road and 63rd Avenue within three minutes of receiving a report of a toddler in a pool. However, upon their arrival, they found both girls unconscious.
Phoenix Fire Capt. Rob McDade reported that the father had called 911, but the duration the children spent in the water remains unknown. The backyard pool lacked a protective fence.
McDade described the scene, stating, “We had a father on scene attempting to do CPR on both children. You can imagine what that would look like and how taxing that would be.” Despite the immediate medical attention, both girls were transported to a local hospital in critical condition and could not be saved.