BREAKING

Twins in critical condition after nearly drowning in Tempe, officials say

Yihyun Jeong
The Republic | azcentral.com
Tempe emergency personnel responded to a near-drowning call at Tempe Village on Sunday morning, Aug. 14, 2016.

Twin 2-year-old children have been taken to a hospital in critical condition after nearly drowning in a hot tub on Sunday, Tempe Fire Department officials said.

The incident occurred about 11:15 a.m. at Tempe Village, a gated community southeast of Warner Road and Priest Drive, officials said.

The twins, a boy and a girl, were pulled from the hot tub and CPR was administered at the scene, but neither child had a pulse as they were transported to a hospital, said Tempe Assistant Fire Chief Paul Nies.

The girl later was moved to the ICU unit at the hospital, while the boy was in the emergency room with a pulse, said Detective Lily Duran, a Tempe Police Department spokeswoman.

Duran said police were still at the scene investigating, but it appeared an adult at the scene may have looked away "for a few seconds'' when the children entered the hot tub.

"The family is going through a terrible time. Our hearts go out for them," said Duran.

"We believe it to be an accident. Police are still on scene investigating, but at this time nothing indicates foul play," Nies said

The hot tub was not fenced or covered, Nies added.

Neighbors Ravi Srinivasa and Madhu Anadapu have lived at Tempe Village for four years. The friends are both fathers of young children ranging from 5 to 9 years old.

They said they don't recall a time when paramedics and police responded to a drowning call in the complex.

The two men came out to learn more information when they heard the sirens.

"It's horrible what happened. I feel so bad for the family," Anadapu said.

Both men said they have seen the toddlers walking around the area with their mother. The family is social, they said.

"I think it would be a good idea for families here to be taught on the different safety rules and regulations with water safety," Srinivasa said. "It's important. Perhaps tragedies like this won't occur."

Check back with azcentral.com for more details.

Tempe emergency personnel responded to a near-drowning call at Tempe Village on Sunday morning, Aug. 14, 2016.