California Mom's Rescue Effort Ends in Tragedy, 2 Kids Swept Away by River

The San Bernardino Sheriff's Department office identified the two children who died Tuesday in California after being swept away by the Santa Ana River as their mother tried to save them.

Deejay D. Humann, 2, and his sister Sophie D. Humann, 4, were playing near the river at the Thurman Flats Picnic Area in the San Bernardino National Forest before they vanished in the water, the sheriff's department told Newsweek in an email Wednesday.

The sheriff's department said the river had "rapid water moving downstream".

Shortly after 3 p.m., the mother, who has not been identified, was taking care of her son while her daughter "was taken downstream," officials said.

The woman began searching for her daughter, but she could not find her.

"When she returned, her son was missing and assumed to be down river as well. After frantically searching, she hiked up to the picnic area and contacted another family to help search for the children but were unsuccessful in locating them," the sheriff's office said.

The picnic area, located near Highway 38, is a resting place for visitors nestled in the forest by the Mill Creek tributary of the Santa Ana River. Over 200 species of birds can be seen in the cedar trees surrounding the picnic tables, including scrub jays, hooded orioles and yellow warblers.

The Yucaipa Station, Sheriff's Air Rescue, Mentone Station County Fire personnel, U.S. Forest Service Rescue Crew and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Search and Rescue members assisted in the search.

Sophie was found at 4:39 p.m. and Deejay was located at 5:04 p.m. They were both taken to local hospitals where they were pronounced dead after "extensive" life saving measures were performed.

Police continue to investigate the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Yucaipa Station at 909-918-2305.