Tragic Accident Claims Lives of Three Young Brothers in Texas

Sun Feb 01 2026 10:52:04 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A devastating incident occurs in Bonham, Texas, where three brothers drown after falling into an icy pond during a winter storm, deeply affecting their community.

In Bonham, Texas, three brothers, aged 6, 8, and 9, tragically died after falling into an icy pond during a severe winter storm. Their mother attempted to rescue them but was unable to save them. The boys were described as lively and full of spirit by their grieving mother, who had warned them to stay away from the water. The local school district shared in the community's sorrow as they announced the closure of schools due to inclement weather.

BONHAM, Texas (AP) — A heartbreaking accident in Bonham, Texas, resulted in the deaths of three young brothers, aged 6, 8, and 9, who fell into an icy pond while playing during a relentless winter storm affecting much of the United States. The boys' mother, Cheyenne Hangaman, bravely jumped into the frigid water, desperately trying to save them, but was unable to do so.

“They were just screaming, telling me to help them,” Hangaman told reporters. “And I watched all of them struggle, struggle to stay above the water. I watched all of them fight.”

The tragedy unfolded on Monday when the boys fell into a private pond located across from a friend's house where they were staying. Their mother had repeatedly warned them not to go near the icy waters.

Emergency responders and nearby residents rushed to assist, managing to rescue the older boys, but the youngest was found after an extensive search. Hangaman recounted her harrowing experience, stating that slipping on the ice and the shock of the cold made it difficult for her to help her children.

“I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t move,” she recalled. “At that point, I knew my kids were already gone, so I just had to try to fight for my life.”

All three boys were students in the Bonham Independent School District, which had canceled classes that day due to the severe weather conditions. A layer of ice still covered the pond on Tuesday, a sobering reminder of the tragedy.

Superintendent Lance Hamlin expressed the district's condolences, stating, “We are devastated by this unimaginable loss, and our thoughts are with the family, friends, and all who knew and loved these children.”

The incident is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by severe weather, particularly during such frigid conditions that have claimed over 40 lives across affected states.