7-Year-Old Twin Brothers Die After Falling Through Icy Pond in North Carolina

A North Carolina community is mourning the heartbreaking loss of 7-year-old twin brothers who died after falling through an icy pond, despite their mother’s desperate efforts to save them.

The tragic accident occurred on Sunday, Feb. 8, in Onslow County.

Mother’s Desperate Attempt to Save Her Sons

According to a news release from the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a 911 call around 5:30 p.m. on Mayberry Lane regarding two children who had fallen into a frozen pond.

Barbara Zarlinga had been preparing dinner while her twin sons, Benjamin and Sebastian Pufall, played outside. When the boys did not respond to her call to come inside, she went searching for them.

Speaking to WITN, Zarlinga said she discovered one of the boys in the pond.

“I didn’t know it was him at the time. I was praying to God it was a toy,” she said. “When I got into the water, I knew it was not.”

She pulled Sebastian from the icy water and immediately began performing lifesaving measures.

Authorities said the second child was quickly located and removed from the pond by emergency responders who had arrived on the scene.

Both boys were transported to Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune. Tragically, they later succumbed to their injuries. Officials have ruled the incident an accident.

Community Left Heartbroken

Sheriff Chris Thomas described the day as devastating for the entire community.

“This is a heartbreaking day for our community. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family as they face an unimaginable loss,” Thomas said in a statement. “We are also keeping our deputies, first responders, and everyone involved in this response in our thoughts, as incidents like this affect all of us deeply.”

Zarlinga was treated at the hospital for hypothermia following her attempt to rescue her sons.

GoFundMe Launched to Support Grieving Mother

In the wake of the tragedy, a GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $23,000 to support Zarlinga and her family.

Organizer Kia Lewis described the family as “heartbroken” and urged the community to rally around the grieving mother.

“Barbara has always been the first to offer help to others in need, and now she needs our support more than ever,” Lewis wrote. “By coming together as a community, we can help ease some of the burdens she is facing and show her that she is not alone.”

As the community continues to process the devastating loss, many are offering prayers, support, and condolences to a mother facing an unimaginable tragedy.