Pregnant Teen and Her 8-Month-Old Unborn Baby Die After Shoveling Snow From Huge Blizzard

National   |   Micaiah Bilger   |   Jan 25, 2016   |   5:18PM   |   Washington, DC

A pregnant Pennsylvania teenager and her unborn child became victims of the massive snowstorm that hit the East Coast last weekend.

Briahna Gerloff, 18, died shortly after shoveling snow on Saturday, Jan. 23 at her home in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, according to the Inqusitr. Her unborn daughter, who was 8 months gestation, also died in the womb.

Gerloff suffered from several heart defects, including Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome; and her family had advised her not to go outside or shovel, according to the report. However, Gerloff did not listen and joined her brother in the snow, the report states.

The report provides more details about their tragic deaths:

Gerloff’s younger brother said he went back across the street to take a short break, while Gerloff went into her home. He said he later returned to find the door locked. Obviously worried about his sister, Gerloff’s brother went into the house through the basement and started calling out her name.

I went upstairs, yelling her name, looking for her,” he recalled. “I went to the bottom of the steps and yelled her name.”

CLICK LIKE IF YOU’RE PRO-LIFE!

 

Briahna’s brother then entered the kitchen where he found her unresponsive on the floor. He immediately started performing CPR in hopes of reviving his sister, while a neighbor came over to assist.

I started doing CPR,” he said. “That’s when my neighbor came over and helped with CPR and tried to revive her and then the ambulance came.”

Despite their efforts, Briahna and her unborn baby, Kayliana, were pronounced dead at the hospital.

She was a very good person,” her brother said, “a caring and loving person and she could not wait to be a mother.”

A report from the Times-Herald includes more details:

Gerloff was also a junior firefighter for the Phillies Fire Company. On the company’s Facebook page, a post about her death said, “Please keep Briahna, her unborn daughter Kayliana, family and friends in your thoughts as we mourn her loss.”

As of Monday, a cause of death has not been determined, according to the report. Authorities continue to investigate the incident.

A candlelight vigil for Briahna and Kayliana will be held on January 30 in Pottstown. Friends also have set up a fundraiser to help the family with the funeral expenses.

BriahnaGerloff