2 Boys Rescued From St. Paul Pool Identified

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- Officials have identified two young boys who were taken to a hospital on Monday after they were rescued from an abandoned pool in St. Paul.

The St. Paul Fire Department said the incident happened at about 2:30 p.m. at an apartment building at 1221 Arundel Street. Paramedics had to climb a five foot fence to get to the children.

One of the two boys was breathing when they were pulled from the pool. That boy is recovering, while the other remains in critical condition. The pool was abandoned and filled with dirty storm water and debris.

St. Paul Fire Marshall Steve Zaccard said when his crews arrived, they had to feel around in the filthy, dark water to find the boys.

The St. Paul School District identified the boys Tuesday as 7-year-old Sher Kpor and 10-year-old Ma Kpaw. District officials said both are students at Frost Lake Elementary School in St. Paul. Sher Kpor is in second grade and Ma Kpaw is in fourth grade.

Stacey Kadrmas, the principal at Frost Lake Elementary School, released a statement Tuesday.

"We were very sad to hear about the tragic accident that happened on Monday involving two of our students. Though the boys have only been at Frost Lake since the beginning of the school year, we have gotten to know them well and we care about them immensely. Our hearts go out to the family and we are doing what we can to support them during this difficult time. Our school community is keeping the family in our thoughts and prayers as they focus on the well being of their children," Kadrmas said.

A neighbor said the boys were brothers. When the younger one fell in the pool, the older brother jumped in to save his sibling.

The owner says the pool was in that condition when he bought the property two years ago, and he was working on getting it filled up with concrete and putting a playground in its place.