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Mother Dies After Heroic River Rescue of Son
20 Jul
Summary
- A mother died saving her 4-year-old son from the St. Johns River.
- She jumped in when he fell reaching for a toy over a fence.
- Her selfless act has raised over $13,000 for funeral costs.
Nicole Grayson, a 43-year-old mother of six, tragically lost her life on July 18, 2026, in DeLand, Florida. She had heroically jumped into the St. Johns River to rescue her 4-year-old son, who had fallen in while reaching for a toy. The incident occurred at Ed Stone Park when the child accidentally dropped his toy over a fence bordering the river.
Grayson immediately entered the water, managing to keep her son afloat until a boater, alerted by witnesses, arrived with life preservers. The child was safely brought aboard the vessel unharmed. Bystanders and the boater attempted to help Grayson onto the boat and administered CPR until emergency services arrived.
Grayson was transported to a local hospital and admitted to the ICU. Sadly, she passed away later that evening. Her family remembers her as a positive and selfless individual who prioritized her children's well-being above all else. A GoFundMe has been established to cover funeral costs and support her six children, having already raised over $13,000 towards an $18,000 goal.
