Two boys drown in Ellis County pond

SHATTUCK, Okla. (AP) Two Shattuck boys drowned after falling through ice into a pond in Ellis County, authorities said. <br/><br/>Shattuck police officer Frank Hernandez said 11-year-old Patrick Wipchi

Monday, January 10th 2005, 6:10 am

By: News On 6

SHATTUCK, Okla. (AP) Two Shattuck boys drowned after falling through ice into a pond in Ellis County, authorities said.

Shattuck police officer Frank Hernandez said 11-year-old Patrick Wipchi and 13-year-old Dillon Giddens were playing near the pond when the accident occurred.

``We believe the younger boy fell into the pond first, and that the 13-year-old tried to save him when he succumbed to the same fate,'' Hernandez said.

Hernandez said police received a call about 3:45 p.m. from a mother who said her son had fallen through the ice. Police found the younger boy floating about 60 feet from the shore. The other boy was later found submerged about 10 feet from the shore.

The boys were taken to a hospital where they were pronounced dead shortly after 8 p.m.

The pond is 150 feet wide, over 300 feet long and 10 to 12 feet deep, police said.