Dad of girls killed when wall fell on their hammock says he ‘looked at pillar 100 times & never thought it’d come down’

THE DAD of two girls who died after a brick pillar fell on their hammock said he had looked at the wall several times and never thought it would come down.

Scout Scaravilli, 14, and Chasey Scaravilli, 12, were at their home in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, when the fatal accident happened on Sunday night.

The girls were both lying in a hammock tied between a tree and a brick pillar when the pillar suddenly collapsed onto them.

They were immediately taken to hospital, but unfortunately died several hours later from their injuries.

Their dad, JJ Scaravilli, told WKYC his entire family are "hurting", but said he does not blame anyone for their deaths.

He said: "I don't blame anybody, I don't blame myself, I don't blame those girls."

Of the pillar, he added: "I looked at it 100 times. I never thought a brick pillar would come down like that - it was never in my mind."

The dad, who was napping in the backyard when the pillar collapsed "in an instant", said: "Accidents happen. They were a gift and they're needed someplace else now."

The dad said his girls loved playing in the backyard together and were inseparable.

The Scaravilli family has now planted two trees in the place where the hammock had been.

JJ said of his daughters: "They were beautiful people. They were beautiful souls. I'm gonna miss them terribly.

"My children are going to miss them. My wife's gonna miss them. They are in everybody's hearts. They had a lot of support here tonight.

"That's the only reason I came, I needed that support from the community and I got it. I'm so appreciative."

Scout, a ninth-grader and Chasey, a seventh-grader, were students at Cleveland's The Hathaway Brown School, who released a statement about their tragic passing.

They were beautiful people. They were beautiful souls. I'm gonna miss them terribly

JJ Scaravilli

"The entire HB community is saddened by the loss of the Scaravilli sisters; they will be greatly missed by so many friends, classmates, and teachers," Hathaway Brown Head of School Fran Bisselle said in the statement.

"Our thoughts and prayers are dedicated to their family." 

Chasey was known at her school for her artistic abilities and her sense of humor, while the 14-year-old Scout was a devoted big sister and athlete.

The school's Director of Middle School, Sharon Baker, told  "You couldn't be around them without smiling or laughing.

"They brought such joy into every room they entered."

Police are investigating the incident, which is being called a "freak accident."

The sisters leave behind their parents and two younger sisters.