You will feel the sudden weight of a family’s loss and the urgency of swift action as the story unfolds. Two 7-year-old twin boys died after falling through a frozen pond despite their mother’s immediate rescue attempts, leaving a community stunned and searching for answers.
The account focuses on what happened that evening, how the mother tried to save them, and how neighbors and first responders reacted. Expect a clear timeline of events, the human responses that followed, and what this tragedy reveals about winter safety around ponds.
The Frozen Pond Tragedy: What Happened
Two seven-year-old twin brothers fell through thin ice behind their home on Mayberry Lane in Richlands, Onslow County. Their mother immediately entered the water to try to reach them while neighbors and emergency services responded.
Sequence of Events Leading Up to the Accident
Neighbors and family say the twins, Benjamin and Sebastian Pufall, were playing outside near the pond on the evening of February 8. The pond’s surface had a thin layer of ice after recent cold weather. Sometime before 5:30 p.m., the boys went missing from the yard and their mother, Barbara Zarlinga, began searching the area.
She walked toward the pond and saw one child in the water. At that point, she realized the danger and rushed in herself. Deputies from the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office and local emergency units received a 911 call and arrived within minutes to find multiple people at the scene trying to help.
Mother’s Rescue Efforts at the Icy Pond
Barbara Zarlinga jumped into the freezing water when she saw movement near the pond edge. She pulled one child—reported as Sebastian—out of the water and began performing life-saving measures on the bank. Her actions were immediate and physically demanding in subfreezing conditions.
Witnesses described her frantic attempts to revive the children while waiting for emergency crews. The mother’s quick entry likely shortened the time the boys were submerged, though cold water and thin ice severely limited survival chances.
First Responders and Life-Saving Actions
First responders from the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office and local fire and EMS units reached the scene and took over rescue operations. Teams searched the pond and removed the second child, Benjamin, from the water. Responders performed advanced life-saving measures at the scene, including CPR and airway management.
Emergency personnel coordinated with multiple agencies and used standard cold-water rescue protocols when possible. The Fannin County Sheriff’s Office and nearby units supported triage and transport logistics, while bystanders relayed crucial information to responders.
Medical Emergency and Hypothermia Treatment
After on-scene resuscitation, both boys were transported to Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune for advanced care. Medical teams continued aggressive life-saving measures and hypothermia treatment aimed at rewarming and stabilizing core temperature. Providers monitored cardiac rhythm, respiratory function, and circulation while addressing possible water inhalation.
Despite continued efforts at the hospital, both children later died from their injuries. Medical staff documented severe hypothermia and complications consistent with prolonged immersion in icy water. Local officials have classified the deaths as accidental and the community has since shared tributes and support for the family, including fundraising efforts reported in local coverage.
Community Impact and Aftermath
The loss of Benjamin and Sebastian Pufall sent shockwaves through Richlands and nearby neighborhoods. Neighbors, school staff, and first responders converged quickly—each responding with grief, practical support, and efforts to prevent similar tragedies.
Family Grief and Support Networks
Barbara Zarlinga faced immediate medical treatment for hypothermia while grieving her sons, Benjamin and Sebastian. Family members described frantic searches and harrowing rescue attempts; relatives and friends moved in to provide daily care, meals, and company so she wouldn’t be alone during the first days.
Local churches and extended family organized rotations for visits and errands. A close relative shared that the twins’ sister handled memorial duties and spoke publicly about small rituals they’d shared, like nightly “dance parties” at 7:05 p.m. Those details have shaped how friends and family remember the boys.
Counseling resources were arranged through community referrals. Bereavement counselors and youth therapists offered sessions for siblings, classmates, and caregivers to address immediate trauma and the children’s sudden absence.
School and Local Support Initiatives
Richlands Elementary School moved quickly to support teachers and first-graders who knew Benjamin and Sebastian. The school offered on-site counseling, adjusted lesson plans, and provided staff to help students process the deaths during class time.
The local school district coordinated communications to parents, explained available mental-health resources, and paused certain activities to give teachers space to address students’ reactions. Staffers held group sessions and gave teachers materials to use with young children about grief in age-appropriate language.
Community centers opened rooms for group memorials and safe spaces for students and families to gather. Local nonprofits and civic groups volunteered to coordinate logistics for school-based support and helped arrange referrals to longer-term therapy when needed.
Public Fundraisers and GoFundMe Campaign
Neighbors and friends launched a GoFundMe campaign to support Barbara Zarlinga with medical and funeral expenses. The online fundraiser quickly raised significant donations, reflecting local and regional responses; organizers published regular updates about how funds would be allocated.
A family friend who set up the campaign detailed intended uses: hospital bills, funeral costs for Benjamin and Sebastian, and temporary living expenses while the immediate family reorganized. Local businesses matched donations or provided in-kind support, such as food and transportation vouchers for relatives.
Fundraisers also included small community events—dinner drives and memorial gatherings—organized to bring people together and raise additional funds. Organizers emphasized transparency, posting receipts and plans for remaining funds to maintain trust with donors.
Reflections and Winter Safety Awareness
First responders and community leaders used the incident to raise awareness about pond safety during freeze-thaw periods. Emergency personnel who responded urged families to treat frozen surfaces with caution and to supervise young children closely near any body of water.
Local outlets, including a WITN report, relayed specific safety advice: avoid walking on unknown ice, keep children within sight, and teach children to call indoors when called for dinner or an adult. Fire and rescue teams also offered basic ice-rescue demonstrations at community events to show how quickly conditions can change.
Conversations in the community shifted toward practical prevention: clear signage near ponds, neighbor watch patrols, and school lessons on winter hazards. These steps aimed to reduce risk while honoring Benjamin and Sebastian by trying to prevent similar losses.
More from Decluttering Mom:
