Florida mother dies after jumping into St. Johns River to save 4-year-old son

A Florida mother died after jumping into the St. Johns River to save her 4-year-old son who fell into the water Saturday afternoon, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies responded to Ed Stone Park, west of DeLand, around 4 p.m. after witnesses reported a child and his mother, later identified as 43-year-old Nicole Grayson, were in the river.

While deputies were on the way, a witness at the park flagged down a nearby boater, who threw two life preservers to Grayson and her son.

Investigators say Grayson became submerged while trying to keep her son above water. The boater was able to get close enough to pull the 4-year-old onto the boat, where he was unharmed.

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Another witness jumped into the river and swam to Grayson, helping lift her onto the boat. The witness then performed CPR until emergency crews arrived and took over.

Grayson was rushed to a hospital, where medical teams continued life-saving efforts. Despite those efforts, she died in the intensive care unit around 10 p.m. Saturday.

The sheriff’s office said the preliminary investigation indicates the child was playing near a wooden fence along the river’s edge when he dropped an item over the fence. Deputies say the child attempted to retrieve it, fell into the water, and Grayson jumped in to save him.

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood and the sheriff’s office thanked the witnesses who stepped in to help during the rescue and extended condolences to Grayson’s family and friends.

“Ms. Grayson gave her life to save her son,” the sheriff’s office said.