Toddler Drowns, Sister, 3, Critical After Pool Accident

A toddler and his 3-year-old sister died Thursday after they fell into the rooftop swimming pool of a Westlake apartment building when they were left unsupervised for a few minutes, authorities said.

Michael Deiongh, 1 1/2, was pronounced dead about noon, shortly after arrival at Childrens Hospital, a spokeswoman said. His sister, Christine, died Thursday night in the hospital’s intensive care unit.

Los Angeles Police Sgt. Sam Layton called the drownings “accidental.”

According to Rampart Division investigators, the children’s mother, Song Deiongh, had taken the children to the rooftop recreation area of the condominium-apartment building while their father napped.

The woman told officers that she left the children alone for a few minutes while she used a nearby restroom. When she returned the children were at the bottom of the seven-foot-deep pool.

The mother rushed to the first floor of the seven-story building to call the 911 emergency number, then raced back to the roof and managed to pull the children from the water before paramedics arrived. No one else was in the pool area at the time, Layton said.