Police in California have identified two toddlers who drowned in the backyard swimming pool at an in-home day care. Lillian Hanan and Payton Cobb were both just a year old when their bodies were discovered Monday in the pool at Happy Happy Daycare in San Jose. A third child was taken to a hospital but survived.
Details are limited, but an investigation into the facility is underway by both police and the Department of Family and Children's Services, ABC 7 reported. The tragedy saddened investigators and neighbors, who are grieving for the children's families.
More from CafeMom: Sacramento Second Grader Is Dubbed a Hero After Saving Toddler From Drowning
Police arrived at the house early Monday morning.
Officers responded to a 911 call at Happy Happy Daycare in the 1000 block of Fleetwood Drive in the city's Almaden neighborhood around 9 a.m. The caller said children had fallen into the pool, NBC Bay Area reported.
Three children were taken to local hospitals in critical condition. Lillian and Payton were pronounced dead, and a third unidentified child was treated for injuries that were not life-threatening, the news outlet reported.
Police are still investigating how the children got into the pool.
Police are looking into the incident and released few details. At this point, it is unclear how many adults and children were at the home at the time of the tragic accident. Multiple news outlets tried to reach the homeowner for comment but were unsuccessful.
A neighbor said he would not have sent his child to the day care.
Chuey Amina, a father of two, told KRON he was home Monday morning and watched multiple emergency responders arrive.
"Once I found out three kids were impacted, I've been shook up all day," he said. Anima said the dangers of small children and having a swimming pool make him nervous.
"That would be a no from me if I were to send my kids to a day care," he said. "If they had a pool that would be something I'd worry about."
The day care was licensed by the state.
Happy Happy Day Care was licensed in 2021, according to the Department of Social Services, but the pool was listed as "off limits," ABC 7 reported. Nina Fathizadeh reportedly owns the day care and described herself on its website as someone who is "happiest in the presence of children" and a mother of a son and daughter.
"I've spent nearly two decades studying how to deliver the most unique and personalized child care and earned a Bachelors' Degree in Child Development. I am always learning and expanding while engaging with children. They are a gift of wonder, presence, curiosity, adventure, and pure love," she wrote on the website. "My gift in return is to offer the most trustworthy and caring environment that gives parents peace of mind their children are safe, secure and unconditionally loved while they play, learn and grow with our family. It's my honor to serve this wonderful community."
More from CafeMom: Toddler Twins Die by Drowning in Family Pool After Grandma With Alzheimer's Left Door Open
Hundreds of children drown each year.
According to the Children's Safety Network, 3,572 people die from drowning in the United States yearly, and 945 are children. Stop Drowning Now notes that 87% of drowning fatalities in children younger than 5 occur in home pools and hot tubs.
Stop Drowning Now urges adults to watch children near water continuously. "Close supervision is required when kids are in or near water (including bathtubs), at all times. Drowning happens quickly and quietly, so adults watching kids in or near water should avoid distracting activities like playing cards, reading books, talking on the phone and using alcohol or drugs," the website reads.
