Two young sisters, described as 'adventurous,' drowned after sneaking into their neighbor's swimming pool in Pensacola, Florida, authorities reported. The girls, aged five and eight, were found unresponsive in the pool on Monday.
Police Chief Eric Winstrom stated that the older sister allegedly climbed a privacy fence and unlocked a gate to allow her younger sibling into the yard while the neighbors were away. The incident occurred at a residence in Pensacola, Florida.
Details of the Incident
Speaking at a press conference, Winstrom called it a 'tragic day for the city.' He noted that the neighbor's pool area was secured with both a privacy fence and an additional fence around the pool itself. 'The reality in this particular case is when everyone does everything right—the family, the neighbors—sometimes tragedy strikes,' he said.
Ring camera footage from a nearby home showed the sisters walking by roughly an hour before the family contacted the police. The neighbors were not at home at the time.
Possible Scenarios
Chief Winstrom speculated on what might have happened: 'Is it possible that the younger one fell in and was struggling and the 8-year-old went in and tried to save her? If we were going through the possibilities, it's very possible the 8-year-old passed while trying to save her 5-year-old sister who was a less-proficient swimmer. I think that's a real possibility.'
Some responding officers were familiar with the 8-year-old, as she had been reported missing on several occasions due to her 'precocious' and 'adventurous' nature. Despite the parents being vigilant, the girls managed to sneak out before entering the neighbor's yard.
'Sometimes when everyone does everything right, something bad still happens,' Winstrom said. 'That seems to be the case here.'
