Two Kids Feared Dead In Construction Accident

Two young kids are feared dead after being buried beneath a collapsed wall at a home construction site in North Carolina on Sunday. The victims, a 6-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy, were playing near the dirt wall when it fell — trapping them underneath.

Although emergency responders worked tirelessly throughout the evening, efforts to uncover the buried children proved unsuccessful. By late Sunday night, officials were forced to concede that the kids had likely perished. The rescue attempts have now shifted into a mission of recovery.

The tragic accident reportedly occurred shortly after 5 pm on Sunday. The children, believed to be cousins, were playing in an excavated basement located on a family member’s property.

The construction site was comprised of a large pit, measuring between 20 and 30 feet deep. The cousins were playing inside the pit when one of its dirt walls collapsed, trapping them underneath.

The accident was witnessed by nearby family members who quickly alerted emergency services. A massive rescue effort was launched, employing every available resource to uncover the buried children.

Despite hours of digging at the site, the team of roughly 75 responders were unable to locate the two kids, and they were soon feared dead from a lack of available oxygen.

Friends and neighbors gathered around the family during the rescue effort, offering comfort and support. Sybil Johnson, who was present during the initial hours of the search, tried to reassure the trapped children’s young siblings.

“They kept saying, ‘They’ve been down there too long without air’ — that’s what the kids were saying up here, and I just told them God would take care of them,” she explained to reporters.

Late Sunday night, officials were forced to determine further rescue efforts to be futile. They are now concentrating their efforts on recovering the children’s bodies. Dion Burleson, a spokesperson for Lincoln County Emergency Management, spoke about the devastation felt by those involved in the failed rescue mission.

“There are times when calls like this happen when we are not able to make a difference because it is outside of our realm,” he explained. “It is devastating not only to the family but to all the responders out here.”

UPDATE: According to The Associated Press, the bodies of the two kids, feared dead in the terrible accident, were recovered by authorities early Monday morning.

[Top image via Shutterstock]