2 children drown after swimming in San Jacinto River near Xtreme Off Road Park and Beach, HCSO says

CROSBY, Texas (KTRK) -- A family is grieving the loss of two children after their bodies were found in the San Jacinto River early Sunday near the Xtreme Off Road Park and Beach.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office received the call at about 9 p.m. and responded to the 1900 block of Gulf Pump Road. When crews arrived, they learned a 6-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl were swimming in the water, went under, and never came back up, deputies said.

Authorities said a father was playing with three children near the water when he reportedly lost sight of the two.

HCSO's marine unit dive team deployed a robot with sonar capabilities, which located two bodies at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday that matched the description given to investigators. In video captured at the scene, people could be seen waiting anxiously on the beach.

"The family is here and very distraught. We do have a chaplain here that is with the family to help them through this most difficult time. Our condolences go out to the family," HCSO Major Jesse Razo said.

Official identification is still pending from the medical examiner's office. It is unclear whether or not the children were wearing life jackets. Staff with Xtreme Off Road Park and Beach claim that the drownings did not happen on their property but across the street at a marina.

Just three weeks ago, a woman nearly drowned in the same area after being pulled away from shore by the current in the San Jacinto River. Several men jumped in to rescue her, but one of them drowned, and HCSO crews recovered his body. The woman and other men made it back alive.

READ MORE: Dive teams recover body of man who went missing in San Jacinto River in Crosby, sheriff says

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