KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Two 5-year-old twin girls have died after they were found unresponsive in a swimming pool at a vacation rental home in Kissimmee, authorities said.
The incident occurred Friday at a home on Ruby Lane in a neighborhood near Poinciana Boulevard and Oren Brown Road in Osceola County.
According to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the twin sisters were visiting Florida with family members from Georgia when the tragedy unfolded.
Deputies said the girls were discovered at the bottom of the pool and were immediately rushed to medical care. Both children were airlifted to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, where they were later pronounced dead.
Investigators said four adults who were staying at the vacation property had reportedly left earlier in the day to get food, leaving a 15-year-old in charge of the children. Authorities said the twins were found in the pool during that time.
The deaths have prompted an investigation by homicide detectives, which is standard procedure in child drowning cases. The medical examiner will determine the official cause of death.
Osceola County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Kim Montes described the incident as a heartbreaking tragedy and urged families to remain vigilant around swimming pools, particularly at short-term rental properties.
“Pool safety is No. 1 this time of year,” Montes said, noting that many drowning and near-drowning incidents in the county occur at vacation rental homes.
Authorities have not indicated that foul play is suspected, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The deaths serve as a tragic reminder of the importance of constant supervision and water safety measures around pools, especially for young children.
