2 Children Almost Drown in Pool

Two West Covina toddlers are in critical condition after apparently climbing through a hole in a fence around their home’s backyard pool and nearly drowning Thursday morning, authorities said.

“The moms were watching them from inside the house, but after 10 minutes they lost sight of the children,” said West Covina Fire Marshal Rick Genovese.

The mothers rushed outside the ranch-style house and found Miguelangel Arriaga, 3, and his cousin Ricardo Arriaga, 2, face up in the pool. They screamed for help, pulled their sons from the water, and carried them to the front of the home in the 1500 block of East Thackery Street.

Neighbor Luis Jurado ran across the street after hearing one of the women. “I was the first one there,” Jurado said. “I saw the two little kids. They were both lifeless. They weren’t breathing. We put them on the ground and tried to do CPR. Luckily, the police were down the street; I waved them down.”

Four West Covina police officers investigating an unrelated incident responded to the screaming.

Field Training Officer Pat Cirillo said he and the other officers began CPR and called for paramedics, who arrived two minutes later.

“The training takes over,” he said a few hours after the incident. “Later, you’ll reflect on the emotional part of what you did.”

Miguelangel was taken to Queen of the Valley Hospital and later transferred to Fountain Valley Regional Hospital’s pediatric care unit in critical condition. His condition improved during the day but remained critical, and hospital officials said there was a possibility of brain damage.

Ricardo was flown by helicopter to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, where he was listed in critical but stable condition.

As police and fire officials gathered at the modest, one-story house later in the afternoon, two push brooms were still floating in the rectangular pool, and a long-handled strainer rested near the edge.

No charges will be filed against the Arriaga family, said West Covina Police Department spokesman Rudy Lopez.