3-year-old twin sisters declared dead after being found in backyard pool

PHOENIX (KPHO/Gray News) — Two young girls are dead after being found unresponsive in a backyard pool in west Phoenix on Thursday afternoon.

It happened just before 3:30 p.m. near 67th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road.

Police identified the girls as Valentina and Penelope Ruiz, 3-year-old twin sisters.

Phoenix Fire Captain Rob McDade said the father was the one who called 911.

Crews were originally called to the home for reports that a 3-year-old was found unconscious in the pool, but they then received information it was two 3-year-old children.

The father was trying to do CPR on the girls when firefighters arrived.

“You can imagine what that would look like, how taxing that would be,” McDade said.

The two girls were rushed to the hospital, but they later died.

“A tremendous tragic scene,” McDade said.

It’s not known how long the girls were in the water.

Aerial video taken by Arizona’s Family helicopter didn’t show a fence around the pool.

Police said the incident isn’t considered suspicious but their investigation remains ongoing.

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