Girl, 2, dies after falling into a septic tank and drowning in front of horrified onlookers at a Texas RV park
- Charleigh Nicole Nelson, two, was standing on top of a septic tank when its lid gave way
- Nelson fell down 15 feet down into the narrow tank and drowned
- Witnesses tried to throw a rope down to retrieve the toddler, but it was not long enough to reach her
- It took fire crews an hour to get down to retrieve Nelson’s body as the narrow tank was just two feet wide
A two-year-old girl has died after she fell 15 feet down a septic tank and drowned at an RV park in Texas.
The tragic incident occurred Wednesday evening at Paradise Lagoons park in Aransas Pass, a short distance from the city of Corpus Christi.
According to eyewitnesses, little Charleigh Nicole Nelson was standing on top of the tank before it suddenly gave way beneath her.
Several family members and neighbors rushed to help, and threw a rope down into the tank, but it was too short to reach her.
Fire crews quickly arrived on the scene, but were unable to retrieve Nelson’s body for more than an hour as the tank was extremely narrow.
Charleigh Nicole Nelson (pictured) died Wednesday evening at an RV park in Texas after the septic tank she was was standing on gave way
The septic tank at Paradise Lagoons RV park is pictured. Nelson fell down its hole which is just two feet in width
‘Initial attempts were made to dig, and then we actually were assisted by the Ingleside Volunteer Fire Department’s rope rescue team,’ authorities told Kris 6 News.
‘We were able to lower a firefighter down into one of the small holes – it was a less-than-two-foot diameter – that a member had to go into and was able to reach the body where we were able to get her up.’
Nelson was visiting Aransas Pass from out of town with her mom, Brittney Nelson, and her older siblings.
The toddler’s father, Ethan Nelson, works in the area.
Brittney took to Facebook on Thursday to thank her friends for their outpouring of support.
‘We truly need and appreciate everyone praying,’ she wrote.
‘We are in such disbelief but can feel God’s spirit around us. We are clinging to each other tonight and have faith that God is going to strengthen us, comfort us and bring us through this.’
Charleigh was with her mom and older siblings visiting her father, who works near Aransas Park
Rescuers eventually managed to squeeze down the narrow tank to retrieve the toddler’s remains