Three brothers die after falling in frozen Texas pond

January 28, 2026

Three young brothers, ages six, eight, and nine, tragically drowned after falling through ice on a private pond in Bonham, Texas during a deadly winter storm. The youngest child initially fell through while attempting to ice skate, and his two older brothers jumped in trying to rescue him. Their mother, Cheyenne Hangaman, desperately attempted to save them by pulling them onto the ice, but it repeatedly broke under the weight, and she herself had to be rescued by a neighbor using a horse rope.

Who is affected

The three Doss brothers: Howard (age 6), Kaleb (age 8), and EJ (age 9)
Cheyenne Hangaman, the boys' mother and mother of six children
The boys' sister who witnessed the accident
The neighbor/football coach who rescued the mother
Students and staff at the school the boys attended
Other family members of the Doss family

What action is being taken

Counselors are being made available to meet with students and staff at the boys' school

Why it matters

This tragedy highlights the deadly dangers of winter weather conditions, particularly the risk of children playing on frozen bodies of water where ice may appear solid but cannot support weight. The incident occurred during a severe winter storm that has already claimed over 20 lives across the US and left thousands without power in Texas, underscoring the widespread and devastating human cost of extreme weather events. The mother's heartbreaking account serves as a powerful warning to other families about the importance of winter safety awareness and supervision of children during dangerous weather conditions.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC