7-Year-Old Pulled From Abandoned St. Paul Pool Dies

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- A boy who was hospitalized after being pulled from an abandoned St. Paul pool on Memorial Day died Thursday morning, according to a statement from the family.

Sher Kpor, 7, and his brother Ma Kpaw, 10, crawled through a fence surrounding an abandoned pool at the apartment building at 1221 Arundel Street on May 25. Police said Sher Kpor tried to grab a flip flop from the dirty, flooded pool when he fell in. His older brother jumped in and tried to save him.

When police arrived, they had to feel around in the dirty stormwater and debris to find the boy. The older brother was released, but the younger brother remained hospitalized for weeks until he died Thursday morning.

Neighbors said they always knew the pool was a danger, and that they often warned children to stay away. Since the incident, the owner of the property has been working to fix the dangerous pool, draining it out and removing the debris.

The family has set up a fund to help pay for the boy's funeral proceedings. You can donate by visiting the family's YouCaring Page.